Redesigned Eric Ravilious gallery inaugurated at Towner Eastbourne
Art Lovers Gear Up for the Debut of The Ravilious Collection at Towner Eastbourne
Art enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the grand opening of The Ravilious Collection at Towner Eastbourne on 26 September 2025. This dedicated space will offer an extensive display of over 100 works by British artist Eric Ravilious and his contemporaries, providing a unique insight into his life and connection to Eastbourne.
Eric Ravilious (1903-1942), a renowned artist, is the subject of this exciting new gallery. Towner Eastbourne, the custodian of the largest collection of works by Ravilious, has been meticulously preparing to showcase the breadth of his career, from his early watercolors to his woodblocks, prints, preparatory drawings, publications, and ceramics.
The gallery will feature iconic depictions of the Sussex landscape, including local landmarks such as Cuckmere Haven and Beachy Head (both 1939). Visitors can also expect to see the rarely seen work Mackerel Sky (1938), which is on long-term loan to the Towner Collection.
Joe Hill, Towner's Director, has highlighted Eastbourne's significant role in Ravilious' formative years and its inspiration for his work. Sara Cooper, Head of Collections & Exhibitions at Towner, discussed the opportunity to showcase over 100 artworks and objects in the new gallery, creating a definitive Ravilious experience for visitors and scholars.
The Ravilious Collection space will incorporate Towner's Collection Library, offering a wealth of information about Ravilious and his contemporaries. The gallery will also showcase works by Ravilious' wife Tirzah Garwood and some of his closest friends and peers, including Edward Bawden and Peggy Angus.
A private collection of rare publications relating to Ravilious and his contemporaries will be on loan to Towner for the exhibition. Moreover, Eric Ravilious' surviving family have placed many of their own works on long-term loan with the gallery, further enhancing the comprehensive display.
Anne Ullman, Eric Ravilious and Tirzah Garwood's daughter, has expressed her happiness about the new gallery at Towner. The gallery will trace Ravilius' life, from his early works to his later career, and will celebrate his significant contributions to the art world.
Towner purchased two watercolor paintings from Ravilious' earliest solo exhibition in the 1930s, including Dolly Engine (1934). The new gallery will provide visitors with the opportunity to delve deeper into Ravilious' story and learn more about his life, work, friends, and contemporaries.
With the opening date just around the corner, art lovers are eager to explore this new space and immerse themselves in the world of Eric Ravilious at Towner Eastbourne.
Art lovers can expect to delve into the world of home-and-garden aesthetics with the display of Eric Ravilious' ceramics in the new Towner Eastbourne gallery, showcasing a comprehensive collection of Ravilious' works and those of his contemporaries. This captivating exhibition, opening on the 26th of September 2025, is set to provide a unique insight into Ravilious' lifestyle and the inspiration behind his art.
