Trevor Bell - Thrust

Trevor Bell was born in 1930 and made his reputation as a leading member of the younger generation of St Ives artists who established British art on the world stage. This exciting exhibition sheds light on the key themes that have informed Bell’s work and includes paintings from throughout his 60 year career. Elemental power and force, be that man-made or natural, has had a profound influence on his work. Time spent in Cornwall, Yorkshire, Florida and the Himalayas allowed him to interpret these themes in different ways.

Bell has been the recipient of many important musuem shows including a major solo exhibition at the Tate St Ives in 2004. Public collections that hold his work include; The Tate, V&A, The British Museum and Florida State University, where he was Professor for Master Painting for 25 years.

The title of our exhibition, Thrust, is taken from a large shaped painting featured in the show. This word seems to perfectly describe Bell's practice. It implies progression and a barely contained drive towards a goal. The word also conveys a sense of power, scale and virility. All these attributes are evident, in one way or another, in the paintings Bell has produced throughout his long career.