We are now at the letter N as we go though the alphabet of the Pier Arts Centre Collection for our #WednesdayWorkoftheWeek series Here's Ben Nicholson (2 circles) 1945 (recto and verso) © Angela Verren Taunt. All rights reserved, DACS 2023 Pier Arts Centre founder Margaret Gardiner (1904-2005) wrote of the travels of ‘2 circles’: The labels on the back of ‘2 circles’ are like a hidden memory, telling the story of the painting’s travels. On the blank canvas Ben Nicholson had written his name, the date – 1945, the title – 2 circles, and his Hampstead address, adding a characteristic bold arrow to signpost the TOP. Then the labelling began. Briefly displayed in the Lefevre Gallery, ‘2 circles’ was soon quietly settled – or so its owner imagined – in Downshire Hill, Hampstead. But in 1954 it took off with the British Council to the XXVI Biennale International Exhibition in Venice where, together with other Nicholson works, it was awarded the Ulisse Prize by the Grand Jury. Ushered across the frontier with a surprising ‘Merci’ from the polite Italian Customs Officials, it journeyed on to be shown in Amsterdam, in Paris and in Brussels before returning to Downshire Hill. In 1957 it was off again, this time to Brazil where, in the IV Biennale of the Museum of Modern Art in Sao Paolo it helped to win the International Prize for Painting for Ben Nicholson. Back once more in Downshire Hill ‘2 circles’ nevertheless slipped off for five weeks to Switzerland in 1961 to be exhibited in the Kunsthalle, Berne. On its return it remained in Downshire Hill until 1978, when it left finally for Orkney and a permanent home in the Pier Gallery. But this is not quite the end of the story, for in 1987, yet more labels adorned the back of ‘2 circles’ to commemorate further travels with the British Council – to The Juan March Foundation in Madrid, and The Gulbenkian Foundation Gallery in Lisbon. #PierArtsCentre

Philip Hughes/Notebooks is on display until 18 May 2024 Including drawings, paintings and notebooks the exhibition celebrates the launch of a new book by @thamesandhudson available in the gallery shop. #PierArtsCentre #ThamesandHudson

Head to our website to read part 2 of Laura Drever’s blog about the Drawing Orkney workshop with Upside Downs Orkney https://www.pierartscentre.com/blog/21/3/2024/drawing-orkney-with-laura-drever-and-upside-downs-orkney #PierArtsCentre #EndTheStereotypes