A groundbreaking exhibition featuring the magnificent works of LUCIAN FREUD has just opened in IMMA, which will become the most comprehensive representation of his work in ANY MUSEUM WORLDWIDE until 2022 …
A wonderful new exhibition of world-renowned artist Lucian Freud opened last week at IMMA, where Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Heather Humphreys T.D appeared, along with artist David Dawson, Lucian Freud’s studio assistant and friend of 20 years, and Freud sitter Pat Doherty (Lucian Freud, Donegal Man, 2006).
IMMA Collection: Freud Project is the new landmark exhibition for Dublin which features 50 works by world renowned artist Lucian Freud (1922-2011); one of the greatest realist painters of the 20th century.
The 50 works are on five-year loan to the IMMA Collection from a number of private collections, including 30 of the artist’s finest paintings, alongside 20 works on paper, presented in a dedicated Freud Centre in IMMA’s Garden Galleries for five years. All 50 works will be on display over the first twelve months.
The establishment of the Freud Centre in IMMA’s Garden Galleries was made possible through the support of the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs who released a capital grant in June of this year to carry out essential improvement works at the Garden Galleries.
During the five-year period of the Freud Project there will be only one other International exhibition of Freud’s work; making Dublin the most comprehensive representation of the artist’s work in any museum worldwide until 2022.
With this extraordinary resource IMMA will become a leading International centre for Freud research with programmes, education partnerships, symposia and research that will maximise this important opportunity for schools, third level students, artists and audiences all over Ireland and beyond.
Renowned for his portrayal of the human form, Lucian Freud is best known for his intimate, honest, often visceral portraits.
Working only from life, Freud’s studio was intensely private and he mainly worked with those he was close to, often asking subjects to sit for hundreds of hours over multiple sittings to better capture the essence of their personality.
The works in the exhibition, mainly dating from 1970 onwards, explore several of the artist’s key themes – works that reflect his interest in people and the natural world. Among those represented are members of his family; his children, grandchildren, his mother Lucie, other artists and friends and connections in the racing and business world.
This is the second major exhibition of Lucian Freud’s work to be shown at IMMA, in 2007 a major exhibition of his work resulted in one of the highest years for visitor attendance to IMMA to date.
See the full gallery of the opening of IMMA Collection: The Freud Project below …
Images by Marc O’Sullivan
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