Newlands House Gallery in Petworth, Sussex, unveils a compelling exhibition highlighting Leonora Carrington’s (1917-2011) expansive yet underappreciated oeuvre. Titled “Leonora Carrington: Rebel Visionary,” the exhibition runs from July 12 to October 26 and celebrates the broad range of Carrington’s work, focusing primarily on her later years.
Carrington, recently recognised as the highest-selling female British artist with her painting “Les Distractions de Dagobert” (1945), fetching $28.5 million, is best known as a painter and writer in the UK. However, this exhibition unveils her versatility, showcasing over 70 pieces that span various media, including paintings, lithographs, sketches, sculptures, tapestries, and jewellery. Many of these works, each a unique expression of Carrington’s rebel spirit, have never been exhibited in the UK before, adding a layer of intrigue to the exhibition.
Carrington’s tumultuous and fascinating life has often overshadowed discussions of her art. Her storied past includes a passionate affair with Max Ernst, friendships with Surrealist icons like Picasso, Dalí, Miró, and Duchamp, and a dramatic escape from wartime Europe to Mexico City. In Mexico, Carrington thrived artistically, producing a diverse body of work while raising two sons and maintaining her creative spirit until her death.
This exhibition’s timing is particularly significant as it coincides with the 50th anniversary of Carrington’s surrealist novel The Hearing Trumpet, published in 1974. Among the pieces on display are numerous works from Mexico, including a series of masks created for a 1950s theatrical production of The Tempest, along with lithographs, tapestries, sketches, sculptures, jewellery, and paintings.
“Leonora Carrington: Rebel Visionary” delves into Carrington’s legacy as a rebel artist who defied conventions and explored themes of feminism, ecological awareness, spirituality, and boundless creativity. The exhibition also highlights her long-standing friendship with Edward James, a prominent patron who supported her work and introduced her to Sussex.
The exhibition, curated by Joanna Moorhead, Carrington’s cousin and biographer, offers a comprehensive look at Carrington’s imaginative and diverse career, which spans eight decades. Moorhead, the author of “The Surreal Life of Leonora Carrington” (2017) and “Surreal Spaces: The Life and Art of Leonora Carrington” (2023), emphasises the timely relevance of Carrington’s themes, particularly her focus on the natural world and the interconnectedness of all life. This comprehensive view of Carrington’s career will leave the audience feeling informed and knowledgeable about her artistic journey.
Newlands House Gallery, housed in a spacious Grade II listed Georgian townhouse and coach house in Petworth, provides an ideal setting for this retrospective. The gallery’s cultural program celebrates the heritage of Petworth and Sussex, renowned for their artistic and literary excellence.
“Leonora Carrington: Rebel Visionary” is a must-see exhibition that honours Carrington’s extraordinary talent and creativity and underscores the enduring impact of her visionary work. As the feminist art collective Guerrilla Girls aptly noted, Carrington’s career has flourished posthumously, with her contributions to art finally receiving the recognition they deserve. This exhibition is a testament to her enduring legacy and the timeless relevance of her art.