Over the last quarter of a century, the Brecknock Art Trust has supported the remarkable expansion of the regional art collection at the museum and art gallery in Brecon.
Now indisputably a collection of Welsh national significance it has, since 2019, been in the care of the town’s refurbished y Gaer Museum, Art Gallery and Library.
An unmissable exhibition of more than 100 artworks drawn from this collection and curated by David Moore opened at the beginning of February, and will be on display for four months. Astonishingly, this is only half of the total number of works supported by the Trust.
Displayed in two galleries and around the museum, the exhibition is organised both geographically and thematically.
While many of the artists have international reputations, the importance of the collection is primarily due to the insights it provides into the range and quality of artworks inspired by aspects of Brecknockshire’s society, culture and environment. Much of this is within Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.
Around 70 artists are represented altogether and although earlier ones, such as Sir Richard Colt Hoare and Thomas Hornor, are featured, the collection is particularly rich in modern and contemporary work.
A section on industrial communities includes important work by Josef Herman while that with a livestock theme is explored by artists as varied in their approach as Iwan Bala, Radovan Kraguly and Sally Matthews. A focus on abstraction includes a fusion of Celtic imagery and jazz by John Uzzell Edwards while, elsewhere, Ivor Davies and Mary Lloyd Jones, among others, reveal aspects of folk tales. Regional sections include artworks by David Jones, Shirley Jones and Eric Ravilious.
Left is Sarah Snazell – Doppelgänger and right is Mary Lloyd Jones – Llyn y Fan 2, dyes on calico, 2008 (Supplied)
Brecknock Art Trust was founded in 2000 as Brecknock Museum Art Trust to promote the appreciation, collection and display of art in the Brecknock Museum. Since 2010, while continuing to support the museum, the Trust has extended its vision to promote the appreciation and display of art in Brecknock and the surrounding area. It has grant-funded acquisitions, collection care, publications, an assistant art curator, exhibitions, museum redevelopment and a wide range of projects.
An accompanying book by David Moore, Championing Artists in Wales: 25 Years of the Brecknock Art Trust, explores the artworks and Trust-funded projects. It is published by Crooked Window for the Trust. There will be an opportunity to learn more at a study day on Saturday, February 22.