Victor Pasmore and Newcastle University

Victor Pasmore was Head of Painting at King’s College (now Newcastle University) from 1954 to 1961. He was joined by Richard Hamilton from 1954 to 1966. Together, they made important developments in Abstraction, Pop Art and Installation Art. Their achievements put Newcastle at the forefront of art in Britain at the time. Lawrence Gowing, Professor of Fine Art, also contributed to the University’s progressive teaching during this period. Additional developments were made by Gowing’s successor, Kenneth Rowntree.

Lawrence Gowing (1918-1991)
Briar and Hawthorn at Savernake, 1952
Oil on canvas
Purchased with a grant from the William Glover Fund, 1956
       
The dryness of summer days is suggested by the pale colour of the grass in this view in Wiltshire. The scene was probably painted after the hawthorn blossomed in May. Gowing has chosen to focus on the pattern formed by the hawthorn branches and the spiky shoots of the brambles, creating a semi-abstracted view of nature. He painted the scene in Wiltshire while Professor of Fine Art at King’s College (now Newcastle University). He held this post from 1948 to 1958.

Victor Pasmore (1908-1998)
Linear Motif in Black and White, 1959-1960
Oil on plywood and strawboard
Purchased with grants from the MLA/Victoria & Albert Museum Purchase Grant Fund, The Art Fund, and the Friends of the Laing Art Gallery, 2009
Image © Estate of Victor Pasmore
  
Victor Pasmore constructed this artwork from layers of smooth and textured wood. These create three-dimensional space and actual shadows. He added scored and painted lines in varying intensities. He produced this piece while Head of the Department of Painting at King's College (now Newcastle University). He gave it to his friend, the artist Kenneth Rowntree. Pasmore’s work was very influential for British abstract art. He represented Britain at the Venice Biennale of art in 1960, shortly after completing this artwork.

Kenneth Rowntree (1915-1997)
Black Painting 1, 1962
Oil on hessian and wood
Purchased with a grant from the Friends of the Laing Art Gallery, 1977
 
Kenneth Rowntree has arranged purely abstract forms in a flat pattern in this composition. However, colour contrasts seem to pull some shapes forward and push others back. This gives a suggestion of movement and depth. Rowntree painted this picture at an important point in his development of a Geometric Abstract style. Rowntree was Professor of Fine Art at King’s College (now Newcastle University) from 1960-1980. He contributed to Artists of the Northern Counties exhibitions, and exhibited widely elsewhere.