Lenkiewicz: The Legacy – Works from The Lenkiewicz Foundation Collection

8 April – 11 July 2009
Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery
  • The Mary folio on display in 2009.

  • The TLF collection at Plymouth City Museum, 2009.

  • The TLF collection at Plymouth City Museum, 2009.

  • The Death and The Maiden folio on display, 2009.

Museum exhibition to showcase the legacy of Lenkiewicz
A new exhibition of works by Robert Lenkiewicz, which opens at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery on Wednesday 8 April, will present the first ever showing of the legacy of artistic works that the artist bequeathed to the Lenkiewicz Foundation upon his death in 2002.

‘Lenkiewicz: The Legacy’ will offer a first glimpse of the treasures now held within The Lenkiewicz Foundation’s collection, and will remain on display until the end of Saturday 11 July. The show is set to provide a thought-provoking insight into the ideas and inspiration behind his work and show a side of his creativity that is seldom seen.

“The name of Robert Lenkiewicz is synonymous with large easel paintings and huge public murals, yet from the early 1970s he also produced an extraordinary archive of works on paper, otherwise known as ‘aesthetic notes’, which have rarely/never been on public display,” explains Francis Mallett of The Lenkiewicz Foundation.

“These startling pictures, usually watercolours, are characterised by hand written notes, which range from philosophical observations to private revelations. Lenkiewicz reserved some of his most extraordinary insights and accomplished painting for these works, which were often bound into themed notebooks relating to his major projects.”

‘Lenkiewicz: The Legacy’ will feature some of these framed aesthetic notes along with themed project notebooks and a selection of large easel paintings.

“Almost every work in the Lenkiewicz Foundation’s archive will be on show together for the first time and the exhibition should be both moving and challenging by turns,” says Acting Exhibitions Officer, Emma Philip. “The Museum is pleased to be working with the Lenkiewicz Foundation to host this show, which gives the public a rare chance to see the legacy of one of Plymouth’s foremost artists.”

In connection with the exhibition, the Museum will hold a lunchtime talk on Tuesday 12 May called ‘Robert Lenkiewicz: A Plymothian’s Perspective’. Guest speaker and local historian, Chris Robinson, will discuss his work and his legacy from 1.10pm onwards. Admission is free but tickets must be booked in advance and can be collected from the Museum or by telephoning 01752 304774. The Museum regrets that it will not be able to admit people to the talk who do not have a ticket.

‘Lenkiewicz: The Legacy’ will be on display at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery from 8 April to 11 July. The exhibition will be open from 10am to 5.30pm Tuesday to Friday and 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Bank Holiday Mondays. Admission is free. For enquiries and further information visit www.plymouthmuseum.gov.uk, call 01752 304774 or email museum@plymouth.gov.uk

Due to the subject matter of some of the works on display, some visitors to this exhibition may find the content challenging.

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