The Expressive Mark

This exhibition celebrates the work of British artists in the second half of the 20th century.

Discover a crucial moment in the history of British art, a period where the influence of Abstract Expressionism in America was filtering across the Atlantic.

The inspired British artists produced works on a new scale that embraced the possibilities of abstraction. They also developed new signature mark-making techniques.

Explore the shared dialogue and formal concerns of these artists and trace their significant contribution to the development and history of British post-war art.

The exhibition highlights paintings from the University of Leeds’ own outstanding collection. Alongside these examples of British abstract art are loans from across the country. Artists on display include Peter Lanyon, Roger Hilton, Gillian Ayres and Albert Irvin.

The Expressive Mark is guest-curated by independent curator Anne Goodchild. Accompanying the exhibition is a new richly illustrated catalogue.

Image: Gillian Ayres, ‘Distillation’, 1957 (detail). © The Estate of Gillian Ayres. © Photo ©Tate