ANTHONY Whishaw is an intriguing and influential figure who, at the age of 91, still paints daily.
The talented artist, who is globally renowned having exhibited at some of the world’s finest galleries, attended Tonbridge School as a boy from 1944 to 1948. And now his alma mater is celebrating Whishaw’s oeuvre by holding an exhibition at the school’s Old Big School gallery.
The impressive show began last month and is on until November 7. It includes several works that were created during Whishaw’s time at Tonbridge, including cartoons of staff and some very early paintings that he has never exhibited to the public until now.
Whishaw’s work, which deals with explorations of memory and experience, can be found in many prestigious international collections including The Royal Collection and the Tate Gallery; the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia; the National Gallery of Wales; Seattle Museum of Art, USA and Sharjah Museum, United Arab Emirates.
Anthony also has many awards to his name, covering the decades from the 1950s to the 1990s. These include the South East Arts Association Painting Prize (1975), Arts Council of Great Britain Award (1978), Greater London Council Painting Prize (1981) and John Moores Minor Painting Prize (1982).
Selina Skipwith, Independent Curator and Art Advisor is responsible for putting the exhibition together. She told the Times:
“It has been a great privilege to curate this exhibition. It is not often that one gets the chance to exhibit the work of a Senior Royal Academician in the school he attended as a boy, and which was instrumental to starting and supporting him on his artistic career.
“The planning for this exhibition has made Anthony reflect on how important his time at Tonbridge was, and how much of his practice has its roots in his time at school.
“He remains forever grateful to the school for awarding him the Judd scholarship in his final year. This enabled him at the age of 18 to move to London and begin his studies at Chelsea School of Art, and from there on to the Royal College of Art where he studied alongside Frank Auerbach and Bridget Riley.”
Selina added: “Anthony hopes that his journey ‘From Tonbridge to Tate’ will inspire current and future students to embark on their own artistic journeys.”
In addition to the main exhibition, there will be an evening talk with Selina Skipwith on Thursday November 4. The talk will cover Whishaw’s highly successful and varied practice, from its earliest beginnings as a student at Tonbridge School to the present, still painting every day in his studio at the age of 91.
From Tonbridge to Tate: An Exhibition of the Life and Work of Old Tonbridgian, Anthony Whishaw RA runs until November 7. No booking is needed for the exhibition and all are welcome.
Old Big School opening times are as follows:
October 23-24 – Open to Public – 12pm-4pm
October 30-31 – Open to Public – 12pm-4pm
November 4 – Evening Art Talk – 7pm-9pm (Booking for this event is required:claire.hartwhite@tonbridge-school.org)
November 7 – Open to Public – 12pm-4pm
