An independent North East art gallery is toasting its 15th anniversary this month, as it also unveils its latest seasonal exhibition.
The Biscuit Factory, located in the Ouseburn Valley, celebrates the milestone this month and to commemorate the occasion, the gallery has commissioned a limited edition original print.
Hand printed at neighbouring studio Northern Print, the design features the quote, ‘Art is art. Everything else is everything else’ by abstract expressionist painter, Ad Reinhardt. The print will be unveiled at the gallery’s winter exhibition launch event this Friday 17 November.
The commercial gallery, which is owned by local businessman Ramy Zack, has provided a platform for thousands of artists since it opened its doors in 2002 and attracts in the region of 60,000 visitors a year. Through its collaborative work in recent years with cultural organisations such as National Glass Centre and Craft Scotland, the gallery has continued to support and raise the profile of the region’s vibrant arts and culture scene.
Rachel Brown, general manager, says: “We’re very proud to be celebrating 15 years of business. I see this as a massive achievement for independent arts in the region and I’m very excited for what the future holds.
“We’ve worked hard to develop the gallery as a significant platform for artists and a destination for art appreciators and the gallery continues to go from strength to strength. Like many other cultural venues it has not always been easy, but it’s been a pleasure to work with so many wonderful artists and organisations over the years.”
The gallery’s anniversary celebrations coincide with the launch of its new winter exhibition, featuring work from more than 200 artists, encompassing a mix of contemporary paintings, prints, glass, ceramics, sculpture and one of the city’s largest collections of handmade jewellery.
Award-winning artist Hazel Mountford headlines the new show with her paintings of wildlife on irregularly shaped acrylic panels. The gallery has also curated a new collection titled Drawing in Ceramics that brings together a variety of work and techniques that profile drawing, illustration and mark making within contemporary ceramic design.
The winter exhibition is open from 17 November 2017 and runs until 18 February 2018. For more information, visit The Biscuit Factory’s new website at www.thebiscuitfactory.com.