Great to see Barns-Graham so well-represented in the new touring exhibition 'Making Her Mark: A Celebration of Women in Art', which has just opened at Penlee House Art Gallery & Museum (@penleehousegallery ) in Penzance. The show is a collaboration between Penlee and Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum and Kirkcaldy Galleries, who will also host the exhibition. The exhibition showcases 50 works by women artists from their respective collections and is part of 'Going Places', an Art Fund programme made possible with major support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Julia Rausing Trust.
Two Barns-Graham works feature, 'Gurnard's Head, no. 2', 1947 - recently acquired by Penlee and Kirkcaldy's 'Atlantic Squall' from 1979.
The Penlee iteration of the exhbition runs until 27 September 2026 - not to be missed!!
#wilhelminabarnsgraham #abstract #scottishart #scottishartist #abstractartist #barnsgraham #abstractart #Artist #artofinstagram #womenartists #ModBrit #artstives #modernbritishart #inspirationalwomen #cornishart #artcornwall #StIvesModernism #stivesart #midcenturymodern #britishmodernism #1950sart #artarchive #abstraction #postwarbritishart #penzance #penlee #penleehouse #cornwallart #artfund
Gurnard’s Head by Wilhelmina Barns-Graham 🌊
Jenny reflects on this striking work and the remarkable journey of Barns-Graham. As a child, her love of drawing was dismissed as a passing whim, but with the support of her aunt, she went on to study at Edinburgh College of Art—setting the course for her artistic career.
In 1940, driven by both a desire for independence and concerns for her health, she moved to St Ives, where the landscape and creative community would profoundly shape her work.
A powerful story of determination, place, and artistic vision. ✨
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#WilhelminaBarnsGraham #GurnardsHead #StIves #ArtHistory #WomenInArt #PenleeHouseGalleryMuseum
OUT NOW! - 'Celebrating the artist Wilhelmina Barns-Graham' - the latest from the excellent series of podcasts with the brilliant Susanna Beaumont from Design Exhibition Scotland (@designexhibitionscotland ). For this 'DES Talks' podcast episode, Susanna explores the life and work of Barns-Graham with Rob Airey, director of the Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust and Mark Cousins, the renowned Edinburgh-based Northern Irish filmmaker.
/gb/podcast/celebrating-the-artist-wilhelmina-barns-graham/id1813857654?i=1000764377111
The podcast is aviailable on numerous platforms as well as Apple, including YouTube & Spotify (see linktree in the DES Instagram bio)
#wilhelminabarnsgraham #abstract #scottishart #scottishartist #abstractartist #barnsgraham #abstractart #Artist #artofinstagram #womenartists #ModBrit #artstives #modernbritishart #inspirationalwomen #cornishart #artcornwall #StIvesModernism #stivesart #midcenturymodern #britishmodernism #podcast #artarchive #artpodcast #postwarbritishart #markcousins
LAST CHANCE! - the colour proofs are looking great and have been checked, and the new revised edition of Lynne Green's fantastic book looking at Barns-Graham's life and work - 'a studio life'- is away to the printers! This weekend (2-3 May) is your last chance to acquire the previous 'blue cover' edition at a bargain price of £20, the new edition published by Lund Humphries (@lhartbooks ) will hopefully be available from mid-June. Shop link in bio/linktree.
#wilhelminabarnsgraham #abstract #scottishart #scottishartist #abstractartist #barnsgraham #abstractart #Artist #artofinstagram #womenartists #ModBrit #artstives #modernbritishart #inspirationalwomen #cornishart #artcornwall #StIvesModernism #stivesart #midcenturymodern #britishmodernism #1950sart #artarchive #abstraction #postwarbritishart #astudiolife #artistsmonograpah #artbargain #bookbargain #artbooks
We are delighted to announce that in June this year Lund Humphries (@lhartbooks ) will be publishing a new revised edition of Lynne Green's essential monograph on Barns-Graham - 'a studio life' - marking the 25th anniversary of its first publication in 2001 and including new photography of many of the works reproduced.
We have a very limited number of the current blue cover edition still available, which we will be selling for the next few weeks at the reduced price of just £20 - .uk/products/w-barns-graham-a-studio-life-by-lynne-green - or see link in bio.
#wilhelminabarnsgraham #abstract #scottishart #scottishartist #abstractartist #barnsgraham #abstractart #Artist #artofinstagram #womenartists #ModBrit #artstives #modernbritishart #inspirationalwomen #cornishart #artcornwall #StIvesModernism #stivesart #midcenturymodern #britishmodernism #1950sart #artarchive #abstraction #postwarbritishart #astudiolife #artistsmonograpah #artbargain #bookbargain #artbooks
A women, her cat, and the whole world ahead of them.
In 1939, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham posed for these studio portraits with her beloved cat, Fusken Chuff- equal parts elegance, mischief, and quiet companionship.
There’s something timeless here: the bond, the attitude, the sense that together they could take on anything.
Honestly… everyone should have a proper portrait taken with their pet at least once.
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#wilhelminabarnsgraham #ArtHistory #ArtistsAndPets #VintagePortraits #petportraitsofinstagram @barnsgraham
5 things to know about Wilhelmina Barns-Graham (1912–2004)
🟨 She was a pioneer of British abstraction
🌊 She was a leading member of the St Ives group of artists, alongside Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson and Naum Gabo
🌈 She is known for her expressive use of colour, which was influenced by a group of painters of her native Scotland – known as the Scottish Colourists
🖨️ She had a 65-year career, but only started creating screen prints in the last decade of her life, which meant her art could be enjoyed with a whole new audience
🏅 She is recognised as one of Britain’s most important artists and was awarded a CBE in 2001. Her painting ‘Blue Drop 2’ is currently on display at the British Embassy in Budapest (@UKinHungary ). #WhereInTheWorld 📍 🇭🇺
#WomensHistoryMonth
[Image ID 1-8: white text written in the caption above on a mustard yellow background. Two black and white photos of a younger Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, a colour photo of her in 2000 wearing a pink jacket, and her abstract paintings and prints are also shown.]
It was wonderful to see on a recent visit to Pallant House Gallery (@pallanthousegallery ) in Chichester, Barns-Graham's 1957 painting 'Snow at Wharfedale' so beautifully displayed between two of her great artist friends and contemporaries, William Gear and Terry Frost (@sirterryfrostestate ) and above ceramics by another two of her close friends, Janet and Bernard Leach.
#wilhelminabarnsgraham #abstract #scottishart #scottishartist #abstractartist #barnsgraham #abstractart #Artist #artofinstagram #womenartists #ModBrit #artstives #modernbritishart #inspirationalwomen #cornishart #artcornwall #StIvesModernism #stivesart #midcenturymodern #britishmodernism #1950sart #artarchive #abstraction #postwarbritishart #pallanthouse #chichester #terryfrost #williamgear #bernardleach #janetleach
Wilhelmina Barns-Graham arrived in St Ives on this day in 1940, stepping off the train on a wet and windy evening. She stayed initially with friends — artist Margaret Mellis and art critic Adrian Stokes — and through them met Naum Gabo, Barbara Hepworth and Ben Nicholson.
She soon settled into a studio overlooking Porthmeor Beach, forging connections across both traditional and modern art circles. In 1942 she joined the St Ives Society of Artists and the Newlyn Society of Artists, and later co-founded the Crypt Group in 1946.
During the war, restrictions on working outdoors led her to focus on portraits and interiors, alongside volunteering in a camouflage net factory and serving as an air-raid warden. After the war, she returned to exploring the landscapes around St Ives more fully.
Later this year, a major retrospective of Barns-Graham’s work comes to Tate St Ives — one not to miss! ✨
🖼️ Island Sheds, St Ives No. 1, 1940
📷 Wilhelmina Barns-Graham painting in Court Cocking alley on a Sunday night, St Ives, 1947
OUT NOW - the latest edition of our quarterly newsletter 'Abstract' is now available on the Trust website here - .uk/abstract-issue-32/ (you can have the newsletter delivered direct to you email by signing up for our mailing list at the bottom of any page on the website!)
Among the the many features and updates is news of the forthcoming exhibition at Inverleith House Gallery in Edinburgh - 'Earth Matters' celebrating the tercentenary of the birth of the Edinburgh-born geologist, writer and farmer, James Hutton (1726-1797). Two Barns-Graham works to be part of the exhibition, including this rarely shown Mushroom Series No.6 from 1991. For more information - .uk/whats-on/earth-matters/65719/
#wilhelminabarnsgraham #abstract #scottishart #scottishartist #abstractartist #barnsgraham #abstractart #Artist #artofinstagram #womenartists #ModBrit #artstives #modernbritishart #inspirationalwomen #cornishart #artcornwall #StIvesModernism #stivesart #midcenturymodern #britishmodernism #1950sart #artarchive #abstraction #postwarbritishart #edinburgh #inverleithhouse #jameshutton #royalbotanicalgardens #edinburghart
In Edinburgh tomorrow (Thurs 12 Mar) afternoon at 2pm you can join WBG Trust Director, Rob Airey, at the magnificent Assembly Rooms on George Street, for an illustated talk introducing the long creative career of artist Wilhelmina Barns-Graham (1912-2004), focusing on her journey into abstraction. This talk complements the City Art Centre's wonderful exhibition ‘Out of Chaos: Post-War Scottish Art 1945-2000’, which includes their dramatic Barns-Graham painting 'Rocks, St Mary's, Scilly Isles' 1953.
Tickets are free but should be booked in advance on the Culture Edinburgh website here - /events/wilhelmina-barns-graham
#wilhelminabarnsgraham #abstract #scottishart #scottishartist #abstractartist #barnsgraham #abstractart #Artist #artofinstagram #womenartists #ModBrit #artstives #modernbritishart #inspirationalwomen #cornishart #artcornwall #StIvesModernism #stivesart #midcenturymodern #britishmodernism #1950sart #artarchive #abstraction #postwarbritishart #edinburgh #edinburghart #edinburghevents
![5 things to know about Wilhelmina Barns-Graham (1912–2004) She was a pioneer of British abstraction She was a leading member of the St Ives group of artists, alongside Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson and Naum Gabo She is known for her expressive use of colour, which was influenced by a group of painters of her native Scotland – known as the Scottish Colourists ️ She had a 65-year career, but only started creating screen prints in the last decade of her life, which meant her art could be enjoyed with a whole new audience She is recognised as one of Britain’s most important artists and was awarded a CBE in 2001. Her painting ‘Blue Drop 2’ is currently on display at the British Embassy in Budapest (@UKinHungary). #WhereInTheWorld #WomensHistoryMonth[Image ID 1-8: white text written in the caption above on a mustard yellow background. Two black and white photos of a younger Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, a colour photo of her in 2000 wearing a pink jacket, and her abstract paintings and prints are also shown.]](https://sp1.picnob.com/p/pt_6747296717511467331147_0_0780e8fd2d9552097d9e4a96c5e8a27d.jpg?o=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&h=e3fbb9db2d9607ca47455a11a65d5ab1)
