New online exhibition documenting the Black Country

A new online exhibition focuses on a number of the evocative artworks created by artist Arthur Lockwood, dating from the 1990s to the 2000s.

Arthur Lockwood: Documenting the Black Country, aims to highlight the various subject matter that Lockwood portrayed and his individual interpretation of areas and themes, including his birthplace Birmingham and the wider Black Country.

Working in watercolour and pen, Lockwood captured the changing urban landscape, including depictions of demolishment, redevelopment and derelict buildings. He was also intensely interested in portraying the factories found in this region and the industrial processes occurring within them, both in the form of watercolour paintings and detailed annotations.

As well as being visually stimulating the works on display serve as documentation. They encapsulate the significance of industry to the Black Country with an interest in the factory’s interior and the processes carried out by the machinery and the workers.

City of Wolverhampton Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Economy, Councillor Stephen Simkins, said: “The industrial heritage of Birmingham and the Black Country is significant around the world and played such an important part to the region’s economy.

“We are very lucky that the heritage of the region has been captured by artists such as Arthur Lockwood and that future generations are able to revisit this important part of history.”

The works shown in Wolverhampton Art Gallery’s collection were gifted by the Lockwood family. This generous gift allows us to view a significant amount of works by an artist captivated by the Midlands and appreciate his distinctive artistic/documentative approach.

The exhibition can be seen online at www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk/lockwood.