The Firing Line: Depictions of Conflict in the Collection of General John Guise

Tuesday, May 25th 2010

25 May - 29 August 2010. General John Guise (1682 - 1765) was Christ Church Gallery's principal benefactor. He combined his distinguished military career with his passion for Old Master drawings, particularly war-associated scenes. The 34 drawings in this exhibition were donated by Guise to his alma mater, and include compositional drawings of battle scenes by the Florentine artist Niccolò Circignani. The works include exploratory studies as well as a large drawing after Sir Peter Paul Rubens' 'Battle between the Greeks and the Amazons'. Perhaps, though, the most famous work belongs to that pioneering old war engineer himself, Leonardo da Vinci: 'Designs for a Cross Bow'. Mon-Sat: 10.30-17.00. Sun: 14.00-17.00 more

Howard Hodgkin: Time and Place

Wednesday, June 23rd 2010

23 June - 6 September 2010. Acclaimed British abstract artist Howard Hodgkin (b. 1932) has said that he paints 'representational pictures of emotional situations'. This major exhibition examines Hodgkin's use of abstraction as an expression of subjective experience, and highlights the artist's use of scale and sensitivity to light. The show comprises paintings on public display for the first time, and includes his 2008 painting entitled 'Home, Home on the Range'. Spanning ten years of the artist’s career, Modern Art Oxford has organised this exhibition in partnership with the De Pont Foundation, Tilburg, and the San Diego Museum of Art. Tues-Wed: 10.00-17.00. Thur-Sat: 10.00-22.00. Sun: 12.00-17.00 more

The Lost World of Old Europe: The Danube Valley: 5000 - 3500 BC

Thursday, May 20th 2010

20 May - 15 August 2010. 250 artefacts from 5000 - 3500 BC, including gold and metalwork from the settlements of furthest southeastern Europe, are currently on display in the Ashmolean Museum. This region, known as Mesopotamia or 'Old Europe', is widely believed to be the cradle of civilisation and is where writing was invented. The area includes parts of modern-day Turkey, Syria, Iran and Iraq. Due to the confines imposed by the Cold War of the late 20th century, it is only in recent years that archaeologists have been able to properly evaluate the wealth of intellectual and artistic riches accumulated in that era. For the first time in Britain visitors can experience this fascinating legacy. Tues-Sun: 10.00-18.00 more

Oxfordshire Visual Arts Festival: Artweeks

Saturday, May 8th 2010

8 - 31 May 2010. Once a year, artists and craftspeople in Oxfordshire fling open their studio doors and allow the public to observe them at work. As the majority of artists tend to work in isolated environments, this is a terrific opportunity to experience the creative process at first hand. In addition to the 474 exhibitions on show during the festival, the artists will discuss their work practices and demonstrate their skills. Adventurous spectators are encouraged to try their hand at crafts which include sculpture, ceramics, furniture, glass, mosaics, jewellery, photography and painting. more

After Michelangelo

Monday, March 1st 2010

Until 16 May 2010. This exhibition, made up of 33 Old Master drawings bequeathed to Christ Church in 1765 by General John Guise, traces the profound influence that Michelangelo had on the artworld. Through drawings by Raphael, Carracci and Tintoretto, as well as by many lesser-known artists, the exhibition provides an insight into artists' education in the 16th century as well as examining the work completed by disciples and admirers in the style 'after Michelangelo'. The drawings on show have never before been displayed in public. Mon-Sat: 10.30-13.00 & 14.00-16.30 Sun: 14.00-16.30 (From 1 - 16 May: Mon-Sat: 10.30-13.00 & 14.00-17.00 Sun: 14.00-17.00) more

Albania and the Balkan

Monday, February 1st 2010

Albania and the Balkans: Drawings and photographs from the Edith Durham Collection. 1 February – 4 July 2010. Anthropologist, artist and writer Edith Durham (1863–1944) became famous for her published accounts of Albania and the Balkans in the early 20th century, where she travelled extensively. For 20 years she conducted charity work, painted, wrote, and collected folklore in Europe's most underdeveloped region. Known by Albanians as 'Queen of the Highlanders', she availed of an ancient Balkan custom involving the wearing of men's clothes, which granted her protected status and allowed her to safely travel alone. The Pitt Rivers Museum currently displays her drawings and photographs. Tues-Sun: 10.00-16.30 Mon: 12.00-16.30 more

Taking Flight: A History of Pegasus Theatre

Friday, January 1st 2010

Until 3 April 2010. Researched and produced by the Oxford Youth Theatre company, this exhibition at the Museum of Oxford provides visitors with the chance to explore the city's rich history. The past is vividly brought to life through original artefacts and stunning set design, as well as a film presentation narrated by Tony Robinson. The theatre company tell a story of saints and scholars, of coronations and medieval happenings, and the subsequent growth of Oxford as we know it today. Tues-Sat: 10.00-17.00 more

Building the New Ashmolean: Drawings and Prints by Weimin He

Wednesday, November 4th 2009

4 November 2009 - 28 February 2010. Weimin He from China is the Ashmolean artist-in-residence. During the Ashmolean's transition period from the demolition of the old building in 2006 to the completion of the new building this year, Weimin He was on hand to record every detail. His unique observations were made using ink, pen and woodblock prints. The artist joined the builders on the construction site and chronicled everything from welding to the pouring of the cement. He employed traditional methods, used in China for over a millenium, and his drawings were made on pi, xuan papers or album leaves. Tues-Sun: 10.00-18.00 more

Crossing Borders: Hebrew Manuscripts as a Meeting-place of Cultures

Tuesday, December 8th 2009

8 December 2009 - 3 May 2010. The winter exhibition at the Bodleian draws on the library's extensive Hebrew archive which is one of the largest and most important collections of Hebrew manuscripts in the world. This exhibition relates the fascinating story of how Jews, Christians and Muslims have all contributed to the development of the book. Through cultural collaboration, social interaction and religious toleration during the Middle Ages, the exhibition illustrates how this pooling of knowledge combined to create the revolutionary concept of the printed book. The Bodleian Library is the central research library at the University of Oxford. Mon-Fri 09.00-17.00, Sat 09.00-16.30, Sun 11.00-17.00 more

Miroslaw Balka: Topography & Pawel Althamer: Common Task

Saturday, December 12th 2009

12 December 2009 - 7 March 2010. Two exhibitions take place concurrently in Modern Art Oxford. Considered one of the most innovative artists of his generation, Pawel Althamer merges traditional sculpture with radical modern elements, utilising whole communities of people into his work. Acclaimed sculptor Miroslaw Balka has been producing cutting-edge video performances for the last ten years. His practice has been described as 'extending a sculptural language that is rich in associations with history and his native Poland'. 'Topography' by Althamer and 'Common Task' by Balka run concurrently in Modern Art Oxford. Tues-Sat 10.00-17.00, Sun 12.00-17.00 more