PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE USE

ISSUE DATE – 9 AUGUST 2013

ART EVERYWHERE

WOLVERHAMPTON

ART GALLERY


GALLERY WORK CHOSEN FOR WORLD’S LARGEST ART SHOW

A painting belonging to Wolverhampton Art Gallery has been chosen to feature in a national project which will transform poster sites across the UK into the biggest exhibition in the world. Lord Volvo and his Estate (1982) by Humphrey Ocean was selected for the campaign, entitled Art Everywhere, following a public vote on the country’s favourite artworks.

Between 12-25 August, 22,000 billboards and poster sites will feature more than 50 works by British artists. It is expected that 90% of the UK’s adult population will be able to enjoy the wide-ranging artworks for the two weeks of the project, instead of advertising. Other works selected for Art Everywhere include John William Waterhouse’s The Lady of Shallot and L. S. Lowry’s Going to the Match.

Cities, towns and villages of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will see poster sites ranging from billboards to bus stops transformed into artworks across high streets, major roads, tube, train and metro stations, supermarkets, shopping malls, office buildings, cinemas, health clubs and bars. Using image-recognition and augmented reality technology via blippar, each physical poster will be interactive, enabling the public to point their phones at the art to access instantaneous information about each piece, visit the collection and socially share their favourites. Prints of many of the artworks can also be bought through the site via project partner, Easyart, with all profits going to the artist and Art Everywhere.

Humphrey Ocean is a contemporary British painter who has painted portraits of Paul McCartney, the poet Philip Larkin and the politician Tony Benn. Lord Volvo and his Estate won the National Portrait Gallery’s annual Portrait Prize in 1982, and was purchased by the Art Gallery in 1996 with the assistance of the Museums & Galleries Commission/Victoria and Albert Museum Purchase Grant Fund and The Pilgrim Trust.

Corinne Miller, Head of Culture, Arts and Heritage at Wolverhampton City Council, said:

“We are delighted with the announcement that thousands of people across the country will get to see Lord Volvo and his Estate this summer. Art Everywhere is a really innovative project which will act as a fantastic showcase for the UK’s public art collections, and it is great that Wolverhampton Art Gallery will be playing a part in the world’s largest art show.”

For more information about Art Everywhere, please visit
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS

For more information and images, please contact Charli Hill (Cultural Promotions Officer) 01902 552040

  • Images available on request
  • Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1DU is open Monday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm, free entry. Tel: 01902 552055.
  • Wolverhampton Art Gallery is part of WAVE, the Museums, Galleries and Archives of Wolverhampton, and is run by Wolverhampton City Council.
  • WAVE is a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England

About Art Everywhere

Art Everywhere is a collaborative project between Richard Reed, (co-founder of Innocent Drinks), the Art Fund, Tate, the poster industry, and 101 creative agency. Working with Posterscope and Vizeum, the poster industry has donated tens of thousands of sites; media owners involved include Clearchannel, CBS Outdoor, JC Decaux , Ocean Outdoor and Primesight.