Past Exhibitions
2013
Real Stories, Real Lives
Personal experiences of World War One, created by The Forge and Durham Johnston School.
(April 2012).
An Experiment in Total Environment
Selected works from the 1960s by Victor Pasmore and an installation based on Pasmore's Apollo Pavilion in Peterlee by Toby Paterson.
(December 2012 - March 2013).
2012
Edmund Francis - '(Manicule) More'
New commissions by North East Artist Edmund Francis.
(September - November 2012).
Chris Canning - 'Of Mice and Men'
Work that recognises human attachment to machines.
(September - November 2012).
Julian Germain - 'Big Meetings'
A photographic exhibition based on experiences of the Durham Miners’ Gala 2011.
(June - September 2012).
'About Face' - Pastels by Henry Tonks
Pastels by surgeon and artist Henry Tonks of soldiers injured in the First World War.
(May - June 2012).
Zed Nelson - 'Love Me'
Photography reflecting on cultural and commercial forces that drive a global obsession with youth and beauty.
(May - June 2012).
John Cecil Stephenson - 'Pioneer of Abstraction'
The first major study of Stephenson's work in the region, covering his path from figurative painting to abstraction.
(November 2011 - January 2012).
Jane Bown - 'Exposures'
Portraits taken by photojournalist Jane Bown.
(January 2012 - February 2012).
2011
Lithography and Tamarind - An Informed Energy
Prints from the Tamarind Institute of Lithography, New Mexico
(November 2011 - January 2012).
Hole Editions - Ink on Paper
Prints and lithographs from the Hole Editions collective, Newcastle, including 2011 Turner Prize nominee George Shaw.
(November 2011 - January 2012).
Anthony Faroux
Durham Cathedral Artist in Residence 2010-11
(July - August 2011).
Breath Taking: Revealing a New Wave in British Glass Blowing
Cutting edge work in blown glass.
(July - August 2011).
The Jerwood Drawing Prize Exhibition
Exhibition of the largest and longest running annual open exhibition for drawing in the UK.
(May - June 2011).
Aethera & Hemera - 'The Colour of Phi'
Specially commissioned light installation exploring the concept of the Golden Ratio.
(March - May 2011).
Nerys Johnson - Flower Imagery Over Time
Watercolours, gouaches, prints, oils and charcoal and ink drawings from prolific artist Nerys Johnson.
(March - May 2011).
Michael Brennand-Wood - 'England, My England'
Photography exploring the absurdities, pleasures, and tragedies of English life.
(January - March 2011).
Beyond Pattern
Exhibition showcasing contemporary artist's references to pattern traditions.
(December - January 2011).
2010
Simon Martin
Work from Durham Cathedral's Artist in Residence during 2009/10.
(October - November 2010).
Jerwood Contemporary Painters
Diverse exhibition of paintings by emerging artists.
(October - November 2010).
Neil Armstrong
'Gestalt,' A series exploring what it means to live within the present, whilst that moment is forever being left behind.
(July - September 2010).
What Are You Like?
Through self-revealing illustrations, people in the public eye describe themselves through images of their favourite things..
(July - September 2010).
Juliet Chenery-Robson - 'A Diagnosis of Exclusion'
A series of portraits detailing the lives of those living in the shadow of ME.
(April - June 2010).
Jennifer Douglas - 'The Short Score'
An exhibition of newly commissioned work by the Gateshead based artist Jennifer Douglas.
(March - April 2010).
The Ruth Borchard Collection
A collection of 100 British self-portraits evoking the atmosphere of the London art world c1920-1970.
(January - February 2010).
2009
Barry Hirst
Images of Seahouses, Craster, Howick and Amble from his home county of Northumberland.
(December 2009 - January 2010).
Matthew Houlding
Sculptures and collages inspired by architectural forms and models, modernism and a childhood spent in East Africa.
(December 2009 - January 2010).
Nadia Hebson - 'September'
Paintings completed during her time as Durham Cathedral Artist in Residence.
(October - November 2009).
Inkubator II
A unique exhibition of artists' books and multiples curated by David Faithfull.
(September - October 2009).
Sumit Sarkar
A ground breaking exhibition by young British artist Sumit Sarkar in which the Hindu gods meet the Transformers.
(July - September 2009).
Laura Ford - 'Glory Glory'
A series of sculptures influenced by emblems from national stereotypes.
(June - July 2009).
Jerwood Drawing Prize 2008
The largest and longest running annual open exhibition dedicated to drawing in the UK.
(May - June 2009).
James Johnson-Perkins - 'Meteoric Toy'
Notions of childhood experience and western popular culture, using materials such as toy building bricks and 1980s computer graphics.
(March - May 2009).
Jo Ray - 'My Spectacles'
Jo Ray's work explores how we value, occupy and dream about space, both physical and imaginary.
(February - March 2009).
Norman Cornish
One of the North-East's most renowned artists, former miner himself, Norman Cornish has documented coal mining life in County Durham to national and international acclaim.
(January - February 2009)
Crash Markers and Attentional Landscapes
Odette England is an international lens-based artist raised in South Australia.
(January - February 2009)
2008
Unpopular Culture: Grayson Perry
Grayson Perry was catapulted into the public consciousness in 2003 when he won the Turner Prize.
(November 2008 - January 2009)
Tim Brennan – The Great North
This atmospheric series of photographs explores how geography, personal memory and social history intersect.
(October - November 2008)
Matt Sewell Home Fires and Deepdales
Matt's work draws on his rural heritage, fusing fairytale-like narratives, often-psychedelic landscapes and a symbolic treatment of animals.
(October - November 2008)
Folk Art and Fairytales
New and recent work by ten UK artists and makers, connected by their fascination with fairytales, folk art and legends.
(July - September 2008).
2007
The Jerwood Drawing Prize
Exhibition of work submitted to The Jerwood Drawing Prize.
(March - April 2007)
Drawing Together
Work by groups of people from County Durham with various disabilities.
(January 2007)
The Chosen Letter
Exhibition of how 40 artists and craftsmen see their favourite letter of the alphabet.
(January 2007)
2006
Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition
Exhibition organised by the National History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine.
(December 2006)
A Digital Brush with Nature
Exhibition by Newcastle artist James Williamson-Bell.
(December 2006)
Federation of Northern Art Societies
Exhibition of work selected from submissions from over 1600 members of the FNAS.
(October 2006)
Against the Grain
'A Renaissance in British Wood Engraving'. Exhibition drawn from a local private collection of over 100 wood engravings by many different artists.
(September 2006)
Without Exception: The English Dance of Death
Exhibition by Thomas Rowlandson (1756-1827) one of Britain's greatest caricaturists.
(September 2006)
World Culture 2006
An exhibition celebrating the mix of cultures in County Durham and the world beyond.
(July 2006)
Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen
Photographs documenting the post-industrial landscape of the East Durham Coalfield.
(June 2006)
Royal Photographic Society - 149th Intl. Print Exhibition
Exhibition of prints showcasing a range of styles and approaches to photography.
(June 2006)
Needle Points North
Embroidered panels designed by Anne Johnson 'to mirror the beauty,variety and vibrancy of the region.
(May 2006)
Structures
Three dimensional woven and manipulated forms by 20 northern textile artists.
(April 2006)
Quilt Art 21 - Vertically Challenged
A selection of contemporary quilts made using new and traditional techniques.
(April 2006)
Optics and Senses
Two hands on science exhibitions to promote the understanding and enjoyment of science, technology and engineering.
(March 2006)
Bird Boxes
Competition winners from The Architecture Week worldwide challenge to design The Best Bird Box in Britain.
(January 2006)
Peterlee Pavilion
Exhibition exploring the new plans to restore and develop the Pavilion site.
(January 2006)
Spotlight on Pasmore
Exhibition of work by Victor Pasmore. Paintings, drawings, reliefs and prints selected from The Arts Councils Collection.
(January 2006)