Sunderland artistic genius recognised in major film to be first exhibition at NGCA's new home
The film Typist Artist Pirate King brought new recognition for the Sunderland artist whose genius was only recognised after her death.
She’s one of Sunderland’s most underrated creative geniuses, her work only truly celebrated after her death.
But the spotlight will fall on Audrey Amiss in her home city as an exhibition of her work is the first to be hosted in the new home for the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art (NGCA).
The exhibition, Kitchen Sink Realism, presents previously unseen paintings, drawings and archival material of the Fulwell-born artist, and opens on Saturday, September 12 as the gallery relocates from the now closed National Glass Centre to the new Culture House in Keel Square.
Audrey’s remarkable story was brought to the fore in 2022 film Typist Artist Pirate King, named after what Audrey put as her occupation in her passport.
She was a prolific artist who, on her death in a Clapham maisonette in 2013, left behind a vast collection of work, 50,000 sketches in her sketchbooks alone.
Born in Sunderland in 1933, Audrey was a pupil at Bede Grammar School for girls before studying at Sunderland School of Art (the building overlooking Backhouse Park).
Her talent secured her a place at the prestigious Royal Academy Schools in London where she studied between 1954 and 1958.
But her artistic studies were never completed due to mental illness, which was less well understood in the 1950s.
Working as a typist for most of her adult life, Audrey balanced work and life commitments and periods spent in mental health hospitals, alongside an unwavering artistic practice which included painting, drawing, journaling, collaging and campaigning.
She died on July 10, 2013, leaving behind a wealth of paintings, drawings, sketchbooks, scrapbooks, photograph albums, account and logbooks. Her entire archive was donated to Wellcome Collection, London, in 2014.
The inaugural NGCA exhibition in its new home is a chance for Sunderland to see Audrey’s work in her home city.
It charts Audrey’s artistic journey from her formative years in Sunderland through to her final years in Clapham, South London.
The exhibition’s title Kitchen Sink Realism is taken from a quote by Audrey, who stated, “I was once in the tradition of social realism, also called the kitchen sink school of painting, but I am now avant-garde and misunderstood.”
The show opens with material drawn from her working class family life in Sunderland and the impact this had on her as an artist.
Early paintings and drawings capture Roker and Seaburn beach, football practice in Sunderland, parks, trees and nature, North East of England buildings and monuments, tall ships, local street scenes and factory workers, many of these thematics continued to influence Audrey throughout her life.
Sections dedicated to her school and college work explore Audrey’s first forays into art and her desire to learn and execute formal drawing and painting techniques.
Kevin Petrie, Professor of Creative Practice, School of Media and Creative Industries, said: “It’s wonderful to showcase the work of this important Sunderland born artist in our new gallery space at Culture House.
“The prestigious Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art is a long-standing asset for our creative students. It gives them the chance to work alongside the exhibition curator, and in many cases artists themselves, to learn first-hand about careers and professional practice in the arts.
“We’re planning a range of exhibitions of professional artists, academic creative work and student projects for our new gallery space, demonstrating all the ways in which creativity can challenge, inspire, communicate - and delight.”
Nick Malyan, Chief Executive at Sunderland Culture, added: “We’re proud to open Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art’s new home with an exhibition developed in partnership with Wellcome Collection, whose care, research and stewardship of Audrey Amiss’s archive have helped bring renewed recognition to this remarkable artist.
“Bringing her work back to Sunderland, where her artistic journey began, is a wonderful way to begin the next chapter for NGCA in the heart of the city at Culture House.”
Kitchen Sink Realism has been developed with support from Wellcome Collection, London. The exhibition will close on Saturday, January 17.