Major coup for Plymouth as National Portrait Gallery exhibition heads to The Box

Major coup for Plymouth as National Portrait Gallery exhibition heads to The Box

A major international exhibition has made its way from the National Portrait Gallery to The Box for its only UK showing outside London.

The Time is Always Now: Artists Reframe the Black Figure, which received five-star reviews during its London run, is currently at The Box.

The exhibition features nearly 50 works of sculpture, painting and drawing by 22 of the UK and USA’s most important living artists, including Turner Prize winner Chris Ofili and Amy Sherald, official portraitist to Michelle Obama. The exhibition is curated by writer Ekow Eshun, formerly of The Face and Arena magazine.

“The Time is Always Now is a celebration of some of the most exciting artists who are working today and we are thrilled to be sharing such a significant exhibition with audiences in the South West,” said Victoria Pomery, CEO at The Box. “Visitors will be able to see large-scale, dazzling works that ask highly relevant questions about race, identity and history. In London it was a paid-for show, but we’re really pleased to be able to make it free for everyone to see while it’s in Plymouth.”

The Time is Always Now is divided into three distinct sections, starting in St Luke’s Church before moving into the main building.

Further information

The exhibition runs until 29 September and is open from 10am-5pm Tuesday to Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday (26 August 2024). Admission is free and there’s no need to book.

There will also be a series of family-friendly arts and crafts workshops on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer holidays. Full details are available from the ‘What’s On’ section of www.theboxplymouth.com.