An exhibition of 140 paintings by LS Lowry will open on 24 October at MK Gallery in Milton Keynes, aiming to challenge long-held misconceptions about the artist. Co-curator Anthony Spira says the show will 'bust a few myths' about Lowry, who is often wrongly described as 'naive and uncultured'.
Rarely seen painting returns after 85 years
Among the works on display is 'A Football Match', painted in 1932, which has not been seen in public for nearly 85 years. It was last exhibited at the Royal Academy a decade after its creation. The painting depicts a game between two unknown teams, likely an amateur match Lowry witnessed. Spira notes that most of Lowry's scenes focus on crowds rather than the sport itself.
Challenging the myth of the 'naive' painter
Spira, director of MK Gallery, emphasizes that Lowry was not self-taught or isolated. 'He spent many years at art college. He used to go to the opera, the theatre, the cinema. He collected art as well, with works by the pre-Raphaelites, Jacob Epstein and Lucien Freud. He was much more cultured and engaged than he's given credit for,' Spira said.
A Guardian review from 1948 described Lowry as 'direct, unpretentious and refreshingly honest,' but his simplified style has led to misinterpretation. The exhibition, titled 'LS Lowry: the Theatre of Life', includes scenes of leisure such as seasides, festivals, and football games, not just industrial work.
Lowry's cultural engagement
Lowry, a Manchester City fan, painted his favourite team in action against Sheffield United in 1938. However, he rarely depicted real-life events, instead composing scenes from multiple observations. Earlier this year, the BBC film 'LS Lowry: The Unheard Tapes' featured rediscovered interviews lip-synced by Sir Ian McKellen, offering insight into Lowry's inner life.
Exhibition timing and significance
The exhibition coincides with the 50th anniversary of Lowry's death. He died just months before a major retrospective at the Royal Academy. Spira hopes the show will provide a more balanced view of Lowry's work, moving beyond the 'negative caricature' of his industrial scenes. Lowry's most famous painting, 'Going to the Match', was bought for £7.8m in 2022 by the Lowry arts centre in Salford, preventing it from entering a private collection.
