To fight off the winter blues!
Bristol has emerged as a hub of art and entertainment, with an international reputation as a centre for culture. For us university students, we may assume that Bristol’s ‘culture’ refers to the great institutions of La Rocca or Jason Donervan, or perhaps the beautiful interiors of the Wills Memorial Library, which they say can only truly be appreciated at 8pm accompanied by a red bull and two 3,000-word essays that you haven’t started.
Yet Bristol truly is stuffed to the brim with beautiful art collections, old and contemporary. As a final-year art history student and now Bristol veteran, I feel it is only right to share with you my carefully compiled list of the best places to see art in Bristol, to add a little culture to our lives.
Bristol Museum and Art Gallery
For the entry level art enthusiast, the logical first stop must be the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery to begin your basic art education. Attached to the Wills Memorial building and free to enter for students, it covers all major art eras from Renaissance to Rococo and makes the perfect lunch time study break.
It is also a fantastic place to go and contemplate the utter uselessness of your art history degree (at least you sound smart). Although a little musty and with a suspiciously large collection of Chinese glass, life size plastic orcas and Alfred the gorilla (?), amongst the clutter are an array of hidden gems. Head to the second floor to see some of the jewels of 20th century art, the iconic La Belle Dame sans Merci or my personal favourite, The Mackerel Shawl.
The RWA
The art historical world is often biased and exclusive, but Bristol’s very own Royal Western Academy works against this. This is one of the great things about the RWA, and its annual exhibition.
The annual exhibition runs into February, and it brings together art from all different backgrounds and media into one room. It creates a space for artists from all backgrounds, both professional and emerging, from the UK and beyond. This combined with its gorgeous exhibition space and its curation makes for a perfect afternoon of cultural immersion.
The artworks on display are all also available to buy. Although with the current Bristol rent prices, we’d be lucky to buy a postcard in the gift shop. Also running alongside the annual exhibition, our very own talented MA Art History students currently have an interactive exhibition, Into the Blue, which you can pop along to see until February, so go along and show fellow UoB students some support!
The Arnolfini
The Arnolfini is named after Jan van Eyck’s mysterious and seemingly unsolvable painting The Arnolfini Portrait. However not quite as mysterious as the first time I ventured down to Arnolfini, only to be told they currently didn’t have any art on display. “I’m sorry, I don’t quite follow, isn’t this an art gallery?” I said. “Yes” said the little man behind the desk. No further words were exchanged.
When I finally summoned the will-power to head back down to the harbour, there was a great array of art on display, so I forgave the earlier episode. It became clear why it is a leading venue for contemporary art, it is a celebration of innovative and experimental art forms from emerging and established artists.
It is also home to perhaps the most well curated coffee shop in Bristol, so head down to the Arnolfini to spend a day trying to decode modern art and having an oat latte that will leave you needing to re-mortgage your family home.
The Streets
Banksy, Bristol’s very own pseudonymous street artist, whose iconic images and epigrams line the streets of our city. They are spread out all over, with the Well Hung Lover just at the bottom of Park Street, to his take on Girl with a Pearl Earring which can be found at the Albion Dockyard.
One of his most iconic, The Grim Reaper, was even painted on the side of Thekla. Take from that what you will. Banksy’s works are political and social commentaries, and often laden with cryptic messages or dark humour. For an interesting day out, rally your housemates and head off on a Banksy Walking Tour, to better understand the hidden nuances of his works.
Make sure to get a picture for the Instagram highlights so that everybody from home knows you’re edgy and liberal. But it is not just Banksy who has made Bristol his own personal canvas, numerous talented artists have contributed to Bristol’s urban landscape, so keep an eye out!