Exhibition celebrating work of local artist to open in Shrewsbury
A new exhibition is set to open at Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery (SM&AG) in January 2020, celebrating the stunning work of the winner of the Wilfred Owen Open Art Competition.
Local artist, Di Purser, won the competition – which was part of the Wilfred Owen Centenary Commemorations in 2018 – with her painting, ‘Pro patria mori’ in response to the poem, Futility.
‘Pro patria mori’ by Di Purser
As part of the prize, Di has been invited by SM&AG to create a series of new paintings, being exhibited on the stunning balcony.
Di has created over ten new paintings, several of which are inspired by and respond to the museum’s eclectic collection.
Her work has a strong design narrative. She uses mapping, acrylic paint mixes, inks and illustrative features within her work to overlap the past and the present.
Di Purser
Lezley Picton, Shropshire Council Cabinet member for culture and leisure, said:
We want SM&AG to become an important staple of the Shropshire community so it’s wonderful that we are celebrating the work of a talented local artist.
I’m looking forward to visiting the exhibition to see more of Di’s paintings and her interpretation of the museum’s collection.
Di Purser, said:
I’m very excited to be exhibiting work in Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery. Almost all the work is new and several pieces are particularly relevant to the Gallery’s collection and my hometown of Shrewsbury.
The exhibition called Di Purser – The New Works, will officially open on Saturday 25 January 2020. It will run until Saturday 29 February.
About Di Purser
Di was born in Walsall, West Midlands, but spent much of her childhood in Ludlow. She completed a BA (hons) in textiles at Loughborough University in 1971 and has had a varied career as both a lecturer, teacher and practitioner.
She has exhibited widely in the Midlands and Welsh Borders including themed group exhibitions and one man shows.
She has interested in Art History, townscapes, landscapes, and hill and mountain walking, which is reflected in her work.
For more information about Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery, visit the website.
