Masterpieces of Modern British Art

About

Derek Williams (1929-1984) was a Cardiff based collector who left his collection of British Modern Art on loan to the National Museum Wales. His Trustees subsequently formed the Derek Williams Trust, a charity with the purpose of acquiring works of art from 1900 onwards for public display. In 1993 the Trust and the Museum made a formal agreement to work together and since then over fifty works have been added to the Trust's own collection, some of which will be on display for the first time. The Trust has also supported the acquisition of many major twentieth century works by the Museum.

The exhibition includes works from both collections, - major paintings by Leon Kossoff, Frank Auerbach, David Hockney and Bridget Riley bought by Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales with generous support of the Derek Williams Trust, and purchases made by the Trust - among them canvases by Craigie Aitchison, Howard Hodgkin, Gillian Ayres and Sean Scully.

Derek Williams formed an exceptional collection of British Art of the mid-twentieth century. Since 1993 his Trustees' main focus has been 'Post-1945', and this exhibition celebrates what has been achieved over fifteen years.

Osborne Samuel are delighted to host this exhibition in partnership with the Derek Williams Trust and Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales. The gallery has a long association with the artists included in this exhibition and is proud to provide an opportunity for the public to view these works, some of which have not been shown in public before.