Contemporary Choice

An exhibition of works purchased by the Contemporary Art Society over the previous three years.

This exhibition offered an opportunity for the Contemporary Art Society (CAS) to show its member galleries what it had purchased over the previous three years and to invite the galleries to select works for their permanent collections. The working processes of the CAS are undoubtedly quite different more than three decades on, but this approach to acquiring works for the nation certainly provided an interesting model with a high level of public visibility.

This exhibition had no particular theme, nor did it reveal a significant trend, but it reflected the judgement of 10 specialists at the time, and saw the works donated to over 100 galleries around the country.

The exhibition was also an opportunity to introduce the CAS’ work to a wider public. One aspect of this particular show which pleased the CAS was the inclusion of work by foreign artists. Works shown in the exhibition included Cabinet by David Field, Rider by Bryan Kneale, and Pierrot 3 by Glenys Barton.

The exhibition was curated by Nancy Balfour, Alan Bowness, Michael Croft, Anthony Diamond, Carol Hogben, Gabrielle Keiller, Bryan Montgomery, Alan Roger, and Belle Shenkman.