This spring the Pier Arts Centre celebrates the art and act of painting with artists from home and abroad.

Beautiful Being brings together the work of two of the most distinguished American artists. The work of Alex Katz (b. 1927) and Cy Twombly (b. 1928) represent two very different ways of working with paint, each having developed distinctive and defining approaches to the medium. The works on display are taken from ARTIST ROOMS, a new collection of modern and contemporary art held by Tate and National Galleries of Scotland for the nation.

Following the successes of 2009 and 2010, 21 museums and galleries across the UK (including 17 venues outside of London and Edinburgh) in 2011 will be showing ARTIST ROOMS exhibitions and displays from the collection assembled by the art collector and curator, Anthony d’Offay. ARTIST ROOMS is owned jointly by Tate and National Galleries of Scotland and was established through The d’Offay Donation in 2008, with the assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Art Fund and the Scottish and British Governments. ARTIST ROOMS is being shared with galleries and museums throughout the UK thanks to the support of the Art Fund – the fundraising charity for works of art, and the Scottish Government. ARTIST ROOMS On Tour with the Art Fund supported by the Scottish Government has been devised to enable this collection to reach and inspire new audiences across the country, particularly young people.

Lucy Askew, Curator of ARTIST ROOMS said: “National Galleries of Scotland and Tate are delighted to be collaborating with the Pier Arts Centre once again as part of ARTIST ROOMS On Tour, following the powerful exhibition of Bill Viola’s work held in Stromness during the inaugural touring programme in 2009. The context of the Pier Arts Centre, with its exquisite collection, will provide a fitting backdrop for this exhibition that brings together painted works by two of the most influential American artists of our time.”

Andrew Parkinson, Pier Arts Centre Curator commented “Alex Katz’s paintings of domestic scenes, landscapes and people display a simple charm that stems from a seemingly effortless application of paint. His small works, painted in situ in preparation for larger scale works, are charged with an energy that transfixes ordinary scenes into a series of unique moments.”

A group of 20 paintings, made between 1967 and 1996, will be presented alongside a rarely seen sculptural work which includes a sequence of painted portrait heads.

Cy Twombly’s art shares a sense of natural beauty with the work of Katz but transfers its gaze from the representational to emotive and emblematic imagery.

Mr Parkinson continued “Twombly’s paintings are vital, highly charged and contain an elemental life force that connects the artist’s interest in writing and drawing with ancient or transformative forms of expression.”

This will be the first time that Souvenir de L’Ile des Saintes (1979) by Cy Twombly will have been shown as part of ARTIST ROOMS and is a very rare opportunity to see the work of this great American artist in Scotland.

Closer to home Hill & Voe champions direct painting with a display of new work by the Orcadian artist Diana Leslie. Working out-of-doors (in most weathers) Leslie’s paintings are fresh and full of life and provide a fitting tribute to the often admired buildings and places in and around Stromness.

The fine paintings of the Pier Arts Centre Collection, including work by Ben Nicholson, Terry Frost, Roger Hilton, Sean Scully and Callum Innes, which are permanently on display, completes this springs celebration of painters and the art of painting.

Beautiful Being is on display until Saturday June 4 2011. Hill & Voe will be showing until Monday April 25 2011. The Pier Arts Centre is open Monday – Saturday 10.30am – 5pm. Admission is free.

To find out more information about ARTIST ROOMS On Tour please visit www.artfund.org/artistrooms. To see the full ARTIST ROOMS collection please visit www.tate.org.uk/artistrooms and www.nationalgalleries.org/artistrooms

Source: Pier Arts Centre, Stromness (www.pierartscentre.com)

This spring the Pier Arts Centre celebrates the art and act of painting with artists from home and abroad.