Exhibitions | Behind Closed Doors
25 January–27 April 2008
Main Galleries
Behind Closed Doors:
Birmingham’s Private Collections from Van Dyck to Cornelia Parker
What hangs on the walls in the homes of Birmingham’s private art collectors? This intriguing exhibition provides a snapshot of the nature and status of collecting in the city today. Over the past two years the organizers of this show have visited in excess of one hundred private art collections within the Birmingham postal district. Now, almost 40 paintings, watercolours, drawings and prints have been brought together to reveal the range and variety of treasures that exist outside the realm of public galleries. The works range in date over more than 500 years, and include acknowledged masters such as Dürer, Van Dyck (above), Turner and Picasso, alongside contemporary and living artists such as David Hockney, Paula Rego and Cornelia Parker. As well as holding a litmus paper to contemporary taste, this exhibition is the first to consider seriously a strong and well-established tradition of private collecting in the city that stretches back more than 200 years.