Goldsmiths YBA alumni donate art to new gallery

Richard Noble with artwork. Pic: Goldsmiths

Richard Noble with artwork. Pic: Goldsmiths

Antony Gormley, Damien Hirst, Sarah Lucas, Julian Opie, Sam Taylor-Johnson and Steve McQueen are among the Goldsmiths alumni who will donate their artwork to an auction at Christie’s to help fund the construction of a new gallery, designed by Assemble at Goldsmiths College, University of London.

The gallery is to be built at the old Laurie Baths, which provided art studios for Goldsmiths students in the days of the Young British Artists.  It will incorporate the black steel water tanks originally used for the baths before the building was taken over by the college.

Assemble – a London-based architecture collective – was selected out of more than 80 firms. A panel chaired by Turner Prize-winning artist Sir David Chipperfield chose the design.

 

The design of the new gallery. Pic: Assemble

The design of the new gallery. Pic: Assemble

 

The design follows a style of “raw and robust” construction and includes plans to build two additional steel frame “lanterns” on the ceiling, which allows for more gallery space so work can hang from it.

Sir Antony Gormley, another Turner prize winner, said it is “an important moment in the development of Goldsmiths”.

The gallery aims to become a new centre for arts in south London. It will also serves as  a hub of inspirational sources for creative students, artists and the wider public.

Richard Noble, head of the art department at Goldsmiths said: “The gallery will benefit students in many ways.”

“It will create opportunities for students to get involved in programming films, talks and performances around the gallery’s exhibition and education programs.”

“The gallery will also bring a world-class exhibition programme of artists to Goldsmiths.”

Over the last 25 years, Goldsmiths the Goldsmiths art department has turned out many radical,  creative  intellectually-engaged graduates including seven Turner Prize winners and 24 shortlisted Turner Prize artists.

All of the £2.8 million needed to build the new gallery will be funded by  donations. It will be located opposite the Ben Pimlott building on Laurie Grove, Goldsmiths campus.

 

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