British Council − Art Collection − Collection

Highlights

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Bridget Riley was born in London, and spent the war years living in Cornwall. After a spasmodic start to her education, she returned to London to study at Goldsmiths College, graduating to the Royal College of Art in 1952. Her approach to painting was slow to evolve and it was not until 1960 that she made her first essays into optical painting during visits to Spain and Italy. All her paintings of the early 1960s were in black and white. Riley quickly developed a style comprising regular patterns of line and colour which cover the entire surface of the painting and appear to shift and vibrate while they are in fact static and rigid. Colour was introduced in 1966, first as warmer and cooler greys, then as vivid contrasting pairs such as red and turquoise. The artist described these works as being concerned with principles of 'repose and disturbance'.

Glossary

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Painting
Work of art made with paint on a surface. Often the surface, also called a support, is a tightly stretched piece of canvas, paper or a wooden panel. Painting involves a wide range of techniques and materials, along with the artist's intellectual concerns effecting the content of a work.

See profile in the Venice Biennale site
- 6 Works

Work Theme

Nature

Portfolios (3)

Exhibition map

Currently on display

GOSLAR KAISER RING

2009
- Germany, Goslar, MOENCHEHAUS MUSEUM

Past exhibitions

ENGLISCHE KUNST DER GEGENWART

1977
- Austria, Bregenz, KUNSTLERHAUS PALAIS THURN UND TAXIS

100 YEARS OF ART IN BRITAIN

1988
- UK, Leeds, LEEDS CITY ART GALLERY

1975 SAO PAULO BIENAL - CONTEMPORARY BRITISH DRAWINGS 1962-1975

1977
- Venezuela, Caracas, MUSEO DE BELLAS ARTES
1976
- Mexico, Mexico City, GALERIA JOSE CLEMENTE OROZIO
- Colombia, Bogota, MUSEO DE ARTE MODERNO
- Argentina, Buenos Aires, MUSEO NACIONAL DE BELLAS ARTES
- Brazil, Rio De Janeiro, MUSEU DE ARTE MODERNA
- Brazil, Brasilia, FUNDACAO CULTURAL
1975
- Brazil, Sao Paulo, MUSEU DE ARTE MODERNA

ARTE INGLESE OGGI 1960-76

1976
- Italy, Milan, PALAZZO REALE

AS IS WHEN (LUBECK ONLY)

2003
- Germany, Lubeck, ST PETRI KIRCHE

AS IS WHEN A BOOM IN BRITISH PRINTMAKING 1961-1972

2007
- Ireland, Letterkenny, CHURCHILL, GLEBE HOUSE AND GALLERY
- China, Chongqing, TANK LOFT
2006
- Taiwan, Taipei, KUNDU MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
- Taiwan, Taichung, NATIONAL TAIWAN MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
- Poland, Krakow, MANGGHA CENTRE
2005
- Lithuania, Kaunas, CIURLIONIS MUSEUM
- Lithuania, Siauliai, DAILES GALERIJA
- Portugal, Porto, CULTURGEST
2004
- Italy, Rome, ISTITUZIONE NAZIONALE PER LA GRAFICA
- Romania, Cluj, BIBLIOTECA JUDETEANA OCTAVIAN GOGA
- Romania, Timisoara, FACULTY OF FINE ART
- Romania, Iasi, PALACE OF CULTURE
- Romania, Bucharest, NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART
- Romania, Constanta, MUSEUM OF ART
- Kazakhstan, Almaty, CENTRAL EXHIBITION HALL
- Armenia, Yerevan, NATIONAL GALLERY
2003
- Estonia, Tallinn, MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART

BELLADONNA

1997
- UK, London, ICA

BLAST TO FREEZE: BRITISCHE KUNST IM 20. JAHRHUNDERT

2003
- France, Toulouse, LES ABATTOIRS
2002
- Germany, Wolfsburg, WOLFSBURG KUNSTMUSEUM

BRANDENBERG FESTIVAL

1997
- Germany, Drewen, KUNSTFORUM

BRIDGET RILEY

2003
- UK, London, TATE BRITAIN

BRIDGET RILEY

2000
- USA, New York, DIA CENTER FOR THE ARTS

BRIDGET RILEY

2008
- France, Paris, MUSEE D'ART MODERNE DE LA VILLE DE PARIS

BRIDGET RILEY PAINTINGS AND DRAWINGS 1951-1971

1971
- Czechoslovakia, Prague, NARODNI GALERIE

BRIDGET RILEY PAINTINGS AND DRAWINGS 1961-1973

1973
- UK, Bristol, BRISTOL MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY
- UK, Bristol, ARNOLFINI GALLERY
- UK, Letchworth, MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY
- UK, Birmingham, BIRMINGHAM CITY MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY
- Scotland, Edinburgh, SCOTTISH NATIONAL GALLERY OF MODERN ART
- UK, Durham, DLI MUSEUM AND ARTS CENTRE
- UK, Sheffield, MAPPIN ART GALLERY
- UK, Manchester, WHITWORTH ART GALLERY

BRIDGET RILEY PAINTINGS AND DRAWINGS 1961-2004

2005
- Switzerland, Aarau, KUNSTHAUS
- New Zealand, Wellington, CITY ART GALLERY
2004
- Australia, Sydney, MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART

BRIDGET RILEY PAINTINGS FROM THE 1960S AND 70S

1999
- UK, London, SERPENTINE GALLERY

BRIDGET RILEY SELECTED PAINTING 1961-1999

1999
- Germany, Dusseldorf, KUNSTVEREIN FUR DIE RHEINLANDE

BRIDGET RILEY WORKS 1959-78

1980
- Japan, Tokyo, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
1979
- Australia, Perth, ART GALLERY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
- Australia, Sydney, CENTREPOINT GALLERY SPACE
- USA, New York, NEUBERGER MUSEUM, COLLEGE AT PURCHASE
1978
- USA, Dallas, MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
- USA, Buffalo, ALBRIGHT-KNOX ART GALLERY

BRIDGET RILEY WORKS 1961-1998

1998
- UK, Kendal, ABOTT HALL ART GALLERY

BRITISH ARTISTS' PRINTS

1966
- Australia, Canberra

BRITISH ARTISTS' PRINTS

1979
- Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
1977
- Nigeria, Lagos
- Bulgaria, Sofia
1975
- UK, London, TATE PUBLISHING
- Mauritius, Port Louis

BRITISH ARTISTS PRINTS 1961-1970

1979
- Finland, Helsinki
1977
- Nigeria, Lagos
1975
- Australia, Brisbane, QUEENSLAND ART GALLERY
- Mauritius, Port Louis
1973
- Malta, Valetta, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MALTA
1972
- Greece, Athens, ZOUMBOULAKIS GALLERY
1970
- Iceland, Reykjavik, NATIONAL GALLERY OF ICELAND

BRITISH ARTISTS' PRINTS 1965-1968

1970
- Bangladesh
1969
- Egypt, Alexandria, MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
- Egypt, Cairo, THE FINE ARTS GALLERY, BAB EL LOUK
- Turkey, Istanbul, ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS
- Turkey, Ankara, STATE FINE ARTS GALLERY

BRITISH ARTISTS' PRINTS 1972-1977

1989
- Iraq, Baghdad
- Bahrain, Bahrain, NATIONAL MUSEUM
- Egypt, Cairo
- Morocco, Rabat
1988
- United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi
- Qatar, Doha
- Jordan, Amman
1983
- Canada, Toronto, Ontario, ART GALLERY OF ONTARIO
1982
- Zimbabwe, Harare
1980
- South Africa, Harare
1979
- Finland, Helsinki
- France, Paris
- Greece, Athens
1978
- Italy, Rome
- Spain, Madrid
1977
- Norway, Hamar

BRITISH ARTISTS' PRINTS OF THE SIXTIES

1975
- Colombia, Bogota
- Argentina, Buenos Aires
- Chile, Santiago
- Brazil, Brasilia
1973
- Spain, Madrid, MUSEO ESPANOL DE ARTE CONTEMPORANEO
- Portugal, Lisbon, CALOUSTE GULBENKIAN FOUNDATION
1972
- Belgium, Antwerp, INTERNATIONAL CULTUREEL CENTRUM
1971
- Belgium, Ghent, KONINKLIJKE ACAEMIE VOOR SCHONE KUNSTEN
1970
- Hong Kong, Hong Kong
1969
- Japan, Kyoto, THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
- India, New Delhi, LALIT KALA AKADEMI
- Peru, Lima, MUSEO DE ARTE CONTEMPORANEO
1968
- Cuba, Havana, GALERIA CENTRO DE ARTE
- Mexico, Guadalajara, ANGLO-MEXICAN INSTITUTE
- Mexico, Mexico City, MUSEO DE ARTE MODERNO
- Cuba, Havana

BRITISH ARTISTS' PRINTS SINCE 1970

1986
- Bahrain
1984
- Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia
1980
- South Africa, Durban
1979
- Norway, Oslo
1977
- Norway, Oslo

BRITISH PAINTING 1952-1977

1977
- UK, London, ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS

COLOUR AND PERCEPTION

2006
- UK, Dorset, SHERBORNE HOUSE

CONTEMPORARY BRITISH DRAWINGS 1961-1975

1989
- Thailand, Chiang Mai, CHIANG MAI UNIVERSITY GALLERY
- Thailand, Bangkok, CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITY ART CENTRE
1988
- Singapore, Singapore, NATIONAL ART GALLERY
1983
- Australia, Canberra
1978
- West Germany
1976
- Colombia, Bogota
- Argentina, Buenos Aires
1975
- Brazil, Brasilia

DRAWING DISTINCTIONS

2003
- Poland, Lodz, MUSEUM SZTUKI-REZYDENCJA 'KSIEZY MLYN'
2001
- UK, Nottingham, CASTLE MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY
- UK, Milton Keynes, MILTON KEYNES GALLERY
- Russia, Nizhny Novgorod, MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
- Russia, Moscow, PUSHKIN MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
2000
- Russia, St Petersburg, THE HERMITAGE
- Canada, Whitehorse, Yukon, YUKON ART GALLERY
- Canada, Grand Prairie, Alberta, PRAIRIE ART GALLERY
- Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, WINNIPEG ART GALLERY
1999
- Canada, Toronto, Ontario, TIMMINS MUSEUM AND N E C
- Canada, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, ARCADIA UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY
1998
- Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, NATIONAL ART GALLERY
- Malaysia, Penang, PENANG MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY
1997
- USA, Phoenix, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY ART MUSEUM
- USA, Berkeley, UNIVERSITY ART MUSEUM

EINBILDUNG - DAS WAHRNEHMEN IN DER KUNST/IMAGINATION - ON PERCEPTION IN ART

2003
- Austria, Graz, KUNSTHAUS

EXHIBITION ROAD PAINTERS AT THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF ART

1988
- UK, London, ROYAL COLLEGE OF ART

LA FACE A HISTOIRE

1996
- France, Paris, CENTRE GEORGES POMPIDOU

FOR A WIDER WORLD

1991
- Argentina, Buenos Aires, MUSEO NACIONAL DE BELLAS ARTES
- Bulgaria, Sofia, CYRIL METHODIUS FOUNDATION
- Luxembourg, Luxembourg, MUSEE NATIONAL D'HISTOIRE ET D'ART
1990
- Ussr, Kiev, UKRAINIAN MUSEUM OF FINE ART