Kettering is fortunate for a town of its size in having a purpose-built art gallery, the only one of its kind in Northamptonshire and a Grade II listed building. Housing a varied collection of artworks that include everything from 19th century landscapes to 20th century modern art, the ever-changing programme of exhibitions means there is always something new to see.
Opening ceremony of Alfred East Gallery
History of the Gallery
proclaimed Earl Spencer, Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, when he opened Alfred East Gallery’s doors for the first time. It was 31st July 1913 and thousands had gathered in Manor House Gardens and Sheep Street for the grand opening ceremony. But the man whose generosity had inspired the Gallery’s construction, Sir Alfred East, was too ill to attend.
East was born in Kettering in 1844 and seemed destined to join his family in the town’s boot and shoe industry, but his heart led him on a different path, stating that
Midland Meadows (1895, Sir Alfred East)
Leaving the shoe trade, he studied in Paris and went on to establish himself as the most prominent landscape painter of his era. He was a member of the Royal Academy and travelled extensively around the world, most notably to Japan in 1889, always documenting his travels through watercolours, oil paintings, and etchings.
After his knighthood in 1910, East celebrated the honour by offering 70 artworks to the people of Kettering,
He had one condition; that a gallery would be constructed to house the town’s growing new art collection. After a remarkably short time, funds were raised through public subscription and Alfred East Gallery was built on land adjoining Kettering Library.
Struggling with ill health and unable to attend the Gallery opening, East passed away on 28th September 1913. His lasting memorial, a gift to the town of his birth, proved to be a fitting legacy and has seen countless visitors walk through the doors in its 110-year history.
The Connoisseur (1904, Walter Bonner Gash)
Gallery Collection
The collection began in 1905, when the people of Kettering raised funds to purchase The Connoisseur by Walter Bonner Gash, hoping that it would form the basis of a permanent art collection in their town. Gash’s oil painting depicted a well-known antique dealer working in his town centre shop, and it was initially displayed in Kettering Library. After Sir Alfred East’s donation, the Gallery bearing his name was built and the town’s art collection had a permanent home.
From that single painting, the Gallery’s collection has grown to include almost 1,000 artworks. Key figures in the local art scene are represented alongside internationally renowned artists from across the world. From grand Victorian landscapes to modern sculpture, visitors are able to see vitally important art from a variety of disciplines.
As well as works by East, other local artists include Thomas Cooper Gotch, a Kettering-born artist who had a huge impact on late Victorian art in the UK. Gotch enjoyed considerable public acclaim during his lifetime and was a regular exhibitor at London's Royal Academy. Today, The Exile is arguably the most well-known image from the Gallery’s collection.
The Exile (1930, Thomas Cooper Gotch)
Alongside examples of Kettering’s rich art heritage, the Gallery’s collection contains some of the most exciting names in modern art, including Turner Prize winner Sir Howard Hodgkin, widely regarded as one of the outstanding colourists in contemporary art, and Sergio de Camargo, the Brazilian artist whose sculptures are found in major galleries worldwide. Other notable artists include Joan Eardley, Stanley Spencer, and Eduardo Paolozzi, among many others.
Today
Now over a century old, Alfred East Gallery continues the legacy of Sir Alfred by ensuring all visitors
As the Gallery enters an exciting new chapter in its long history, our future exhibition and events programme will not only continue to showcase the thriving local art scene, but also bring major names in art to the people of Kettering and beyond.