Zillah Bell Contemporary Art
Encyclopedia
The Zillah Bell Art Gallery is an independent contemporary art gallery
housed in a Grade II Listed Building in Thirsk
, North Yorkshire
, England
. Since opening in 1988 it has more than doubled its wall space and is a venue for a variety of contemporary artists. The gallery exhibits a wide variety of local and national artists including among others, Norman Ackroyd
, Deirdre Borlase, Colin Britton, Mike Clay, Robin Hazlewood, Jason Hicklin, Roger Kohn
, Janet Moodie and Jonathan Trowell.
In 1996 and 2000, the surrealist artist, writer and extraordinary 'box-maker' Anthony Earnshaw
, a close friend of the owner, exhibited there with Another G&T in 1996 and Flowers 2 in 2000. Earnshaw, who died in 2001 was heavily influenced by the artist Paul Klee
.
Dating back to the 18th Century, the building retains original features such as the range. Prior to becoming a gallery, the building was an electrical shop.
In 2005 the owner of the Zillah Bell Gallery, John Bell, invited several artists to participate in an exhibition of work on Paddy's Hole. Paddy's Hole is a small, man made harbour on the South Gare
breakwater peninsula at the mouth of the River Tees on Teesside. A fishing boat repair works, nuclear power station, steelworks, lighthouse and golf course combine to create a most unusual and otherworldly little place. The exhibition was a multi-media event. Among other artistsRoger Kohn
produced several landscape drawings inspired by the location. One of the more unusual exhibits at this event was a cabinet of tea cakes created out of material salvaged in the harbour by the artist, David Winfield.
In March 2007 refurbishments were completed to repair and modernise the gallery.
The gallery is named after owner John Bell’s youngest daughter Zillah who, along with her sisters Daisy & Lettice Bell, were responsible for organising the Art of Care auction of postcards held in Edinburgh, 2005. Artists who exhibited at the Art of Care Auction included Sir Paul McCartney
, David Hockney
, Tracey Emin
and Damien Hirst
.
Contemporary art gallery
A contemporary art gallery is a place where contemporary art is shown for exhibition and/or for sale. The term "art gallery" is commonly used to mean art museum , the rooms displaying art in any museum, or in the original sense, of any large or long room.-Identity, function and locality:A...
housed in a Grade II Listed Building in Thirsk
Thirsk
Thirsk is a small market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. The local travel links are located a mile from the town centre to Thirsk railway station and to Durham Tees Valley Airport...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Since opening in 1988 it has more than doubled its wall space and is a venue for a variety of contemporary artists. The gallery exhibits a wide variety of local and national artists including among others, Norman Ackroyd
Norman Ackroyd
Norman Ackroyd, CBE, R.A. is an English artist known primarily for his aquatints. He is based in London.Ackroyd attended Leeds College of Art from 1957–61 and the Royal College of Art, London from 1961–64, where he studied under Julian Trevelyan. Subsequently he lived for several years in the...
, Deirdre Borlase, Colin Britton, Mike Clay, Robin Hazlewood, Jason Hicklin, Roger Kohn
Roger Kohn
Roger Kohn is a designer and author. He studied with Rowan Gillespie at York School of Art and is the Irish sculptor's biographer.-Education and career:Kohn was educated at Marton Hall Preparatory School and Pocklington School...
, Janet Moodie and Jonathan Trowell.
Exhibitions
Exhibitions at the Zillah Bell Gallery change monthly with annual Summer and Christmas exhibitions, the latter serving partly as a retrospective of the year and including the work of both established and up and coming Artists.In 1996 and 2000, the surrealist artist, writer and extraordinary 'box-maker' Anthony Earnshaw
Anthony Earnshaw
Anthony Earnshaw was an English anarchist, artist, author, and illustrator.Earnshaw was born in Ilkley, West Yorkshire. His father, a watchmaker and jeweller, died before he was born. His mother ran the family shop until bankruptcy in 1930, when they moved first to Redcar and then to Leeds...
, a close friend of the owner, exhibited there with Another G&T in 1996 and Flowers 2 in 2000. Earnshaw, who died in 2001 was heavily influenced by the artist Paul Klee
Paul Klee
Paul Klee was born in Münchenbuchsee, Switzerland, and is considered both a German and a Swiss painter. His highly individual style was influenced by movements in art that included expressionism, cubism, and surrealism. He was, as well, a student of orientalism...
.
Dating back to the 18th Century, the building retains original features such as the range. Prior to becoming a gallery, the building was an electrical shop.
In 2005 the owner of the Zillah Bell Gallery, John Bell, invited several artists to participate in an exhibition of work on Paddy's Hole. Paddy's Hole is a small, man made harbour on the South Gare
South Gare
South Gare is an area of reclaimed land and breakwater on the southern side of the mouth of the river Tees in Redcar and Cleveland. It is accessed by taking the South Gare Road from Fisherman's Crossing at the western end of Tod Point Road in Warrenby.Before the building of South Gare, permanent...
breakwater peninsula at the mouth of the River Tees on Teesside. A fishing boat repair works, nuclear power station, steelworks, lighthouse and golf course combine to create a most unusual and otherworldly little place. The exhibition was a multi-media event. Among other artistsRoger Kohn
Roger Kohn
Roger Kohn is a designer and author. He studied with Rowan Gillespie at York School of Art and is the Irish sculptor's biographer.-Education and career:Kohn was educated at Marton Hall Preparatory School and Pocklington School...
produced several landscape drawings inspired by the location. One of the more unusual exhibits at this event was a cabinet of tea cakes created out of material salvaged in the harbour by the artist, David Winfield.
In March 2007 refurbishments were completed to repair and modernise the gallery.
The gallery is named after owner John Bell’s youngest daughter Zillah who, along with her sisters Daisy & Lettice Bell, were responsible for organising the Art of Care auction of postcards held in Edinburgh, 2005. Artists who exhibited at the Art of Care Auction included Sir Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, David Hockney
David Hockney
David Hockney, CH, RA, is an English painter, draughtsman, printmaker, stage designer and photographer, who is based in Bridlington, Yorkshire and Kensington, London....
, Tracey Emin
Tracey Emin
Tracey Karima Emin RA is a British artist of English and Turkish Cypriot origin. She is part of the group known as Britartists or YBAs ....
and Damien Hirst
Damien Hirst
Damien Steven Hirst is an English artist, entrepreneur and art collector. He is the most prominent member of the group known as the Young British Artists , who dominated the art scene in Britain during the 1990s. He is internationally renowned, and is reportedly Britain's richest living artist,...
.
Artist's List
- Roger KohnRoger KohnRoger Kohn is a designer and author. He studied with Rowan Gillespie at York School of Art and is the Irish sculptor's biographer.-Education and career:Kohn was educated at Marton Hall Preparatory School and Pocklington School...
Hung Drawn and Slaughtered, 2003 - Anthony EarnshawAnthony EarnshawAnthony Earnshaw was an English anarchist, artist, author, and illustrator.Earnshaw was born in Ilkley, West Yorkshire. His father, a watchmaker and jeweller, died before he was born. His mother ran the family shop until bankruptcy in 1930, when they moved first to Redcar and then to Leeds...
(1996 Another G&T; 2000 Flowers 2, (ref artists website).