Currie-ing favour at Bradford 1 Gallery
"Three large paintings from Ken's 2007 'Immortality' series - entitled A Gate, A Door and A Window - will be exhibited in Bradford for the first time from Saturday, 2 February.
The exhibition will also feature a small selection of other works, including Dead Stag(2010), from his previous'Animals' series.
Ken is influenced by traditional Spanish painting and his larger than life canvasses primarily explore visions of power, darkness and immortality.
The exhibition - which is being brought to Bradford in partnership with Flowers Gallery in London - will run at the Bradford Council-run venue until Saturday, 4 May.
It will be launched with an artist's talk between 12.30-1.30pm. The event will give visitors the chance to meet Ken and view the exhibition with him and Matthew Flowers, Managing Director of Flowers Gallery, London. Places are free but due to limited space it is necessary to book in advance.
The exhibition will also be supported with the screening of 'The Leopard' (1963), a PG film that stars Burt Lancaster and Alain Delon. It will be introduced by artist Pip Dickens, who will highlight links between Ken's paintings and the strong influence it had on his work. It will be screened on Thursday, 18 April between 6-10pm. Tickets cost £3 per person in advance or £5 on the door.
To reserve a place for either the artist's talk or film, please contact 01274 437800 or bradford1gallery@bradford.gov.uk
Coun Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council's Executive Member responsible for Culture, said: "Ken Currie is a one of Scotland's most influential contemporary artists. It's therefore a real coup that our Museum team have managed to secure a showing of his work in Bradford."
Ken graduated from the Glasgow School of Art in 1983. His work can be seen in the collections of The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art; The National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh; The New York Public Library; the Yale Center for British Art, New Haven; and the Boston Museum of Fine Art.
His 'Immortality' series draws on traditional portrait conventions to explore the selfish nature of humanity. This is done through the depiction of haunting characters as they vie for power and status, and includes fictional kings and businessmen.
A catalogue from the exhibition with an essay by Julie Lawson, Senior Curator at Scotland's National Portrait Gallery, will be available to buy from the gallery.
Bradford 1 Gallery is located in Centenary Square. It is open Tuesday - Friday (11am- 6pm) and Saturday (12noon - 5pm).
For information about exhibitions and events being held at the Council's museums and galleries, please visit http://www.bradfordmuseums.org/or follow @BradfordMuseums"