Lessons In the Studio: Studio in the Seminar

Fine Art at Leeds was proposed by the trio of influential British war poet and modernist art historian Herbert Read, Bonamy Dobrée (then Professor of English at the University), and painter Valentine Dobrée. 

Read and the Dobrées believed that having Fine Art at the University of Leeds could challenge what they feared was the unfair privileging of science and technology over the arts and humanities. Today, again, the arts and humanities are under threat at universities and art, drama and music are disappearing from our schools. They are considered less economically valuable or useful subjects in higher education. Telling the story of Fine Art at Leeds through this exhibition aims to challenge this troubling trend.

Co-curator Griselda Pollock said: “Reviewing our seventy years, we are rediscovering the many ways our students have used their fine art, art history and cultural and museum studies to go into the world as thinkers, artists, musicians, screenwriters, film directors, teachers, curators, editors, and novelists. These include New York Museum of Modern Art’s former chief curator John Elderfield and the creator of The Queen and The Crown Peter Morgan, to artists Jacky Fleming, Sutapa Biswas, Steve Bell and Turner Prize winner Elizabeth Price. Alumni also include musicians such as Gang of Four and Little Boots. Visiting artists - from the Gregory Fellows of the 1950s-80s to contemporary figures such as Mary Kelly and Lubaina Himid - have also been a rich part of our history.”

The display also features the story of The Leeds 13, who are one of the most famous collective art projects to emerge from the University. The Leeds 13 saw an entire year of fine artists work together to challenge concepts of individual creation and the definition of art. With their conceptual art project 'Going Places', the group caused a media storm in 1998 with a staged holiday to Malaga.