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St Ives Art Scene
St Ives Art Scene
Where to begin with the infinite possibilities of the St Ives art scene? Of course, there are those galleries that need no introduction – Tate St Ives and The Barbara Hepworth Museum are mandatory viewing for any art enthusiast – but St Ives’ narrow streets are positively stacked with fabulous independent galleries
Galleries
Take advantage of our special relationship with Tate St Ives, Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Gardens and more to make sure you sample the crème de la crème of St Ives’ exceptional art scene.
Penwith Gallery
Penwith is home to Penwith Society of Artists, established in 1949 by Barbara Hepworth, Bernard Leach, Peter Lanyon and Ben Nicholson, among others.
Porthminster Gallery
Porthminster Gallery boasts a stunning collection of contemporary Cornish and British artwork available to buy, as well as regularly curating exhibitions.
Art Space Gallery
Art Space Gallery is a co-operative with work covering original pieces in oils, watercolours, pastels, acrylics, wall-mounted ceramics and glass.
New Craftsman Gallery
Associated with Leach Pottery and the late John Miller among many other Cornish artists, it has a varied programme of exhibitions.
The Salthouse Gallery
Located in Norway Square, Salthouse is great for pop-up exhibitions and often outstanding work from Cornwall’s more contemporary artists.
St Ives Society of Artists
Formed in 1927, St Ives Society of Artists’ exhibition programmes feature work chosen by guest curators and invited exhibitions that are a diverse mix of contemporary art.
GO BACK IN TIME
Experience the history of the St Ives art scene through this collection of films featuring St Ives School of Painting and the importance of St Ives and Porthmeor Studios as an artists’ colony.
Discover more…
1880s to 1920
The Beginning of an Art Colony
Since the end of the nineteenth century, the clarity of light unique to St Ives and the romantic coastal scenery with its gigantic seas, rugged cliffs and wild moorland has seduced artists from around the world.
1920s to 1930s
English Modernism in St Ives
In 1920 Bernard Leach, who would become a leader in the world of potters, arrived with the Japanese potter Shoji Hamada and built Europe’s first oriental climbing kiln at Higher Stennack.
1945 -1960s
The “St Ives School”
Following the Second World War, the established group of painters, sculptors and potters in St Ives and their growing reputation attracted a succession of younger artists.