514:
228:
546:
433:
308:) assisted by Jeanette Koch, the gallery embarked on an ambitious expansion of broadening the exhibition programme to include the works of nationally and internationally recognised artists, and to move to a busier location in order to gain greater interest from a wider public. In the autumn of 1972, with increased financial support of
29:
303:
The lease on the kiosk expired after three years, but with Arts
Council support the gallery was able to move to the former mortuary in the basement of Queens College in Swallow Street in 1968 and appointed Jeanette Koch as gallery manager. During the next 4 years Ikon held 93 exhibitions and 40 group
324:
and provided a space four times larger than the
Swallow Street gallery and virtually forty times larger than the original Bull Ring kiosk. The number of visitors to the gallery rocketed into the hundreds and on occasions peaked at over a thousand a day providing many with their first opportunity of
187:
Ikon was set up to encourage the public to engage in contemporary art. As a result, the gallery delivers an off-site
Education and Interpretation scheme to educate audiences, and to promote artists and their work. The gallery is open every day of the week except Mondays, though it opens on
263:
in 1964, and the two started discussions about the lack of support for contemporary artists provided by
Birmingham's existing artistic institutions. The gallery was originally conceived as a "gallery without walls", with exhibitions planned to tour unconventional locations such as
588:
There is also an off-site programme which helps develop dynamic relationships between art, artists and the audience outside the gallery. The projects and events vary enormously in scale, duration and type of location, challenging expectations of where art can be seen and by
474:, who reinstated the building's tower, which had been demolished during the 1960s. Café Ikon, on the ground floor, was designed by Birmingham-based architects The Space Studio and opened in December 1998. Form, Space & Order were the
332:
During the next 6 years, Ikon became positioned as one of the most important contemporary art galleries outside London, attracting both exhibitors and visitors from far beyond the city. Among the artists who had solo exhibitions were
299:"Ikon is intended as an antithesis to exclusive art establishments and galleries … it has been formed because of the need for an accessible place where the exchange of visual ideas can become a familiar reality"
596:. Through a variety of talks, tours, workshops and seminars, the Education & Interpretation programme recognises that artistic expression can empower people, heightening individual and community experience.
536:
This venue closed in summer 2007, but the gallery opened a gallery in a different building a short distance away in May 2008. After being part of the
Fazeley Studios complex it closed permanently in 2011.
1484:
287:
The gallery's venture was funded by Skene, but organisational control of the gallery was left in the hands of the artists. The name of the gallery was coined by Groves, who was interested in the
295:. The name was agreed by the other founders partly on the basis that it "divides beautifully geometrically and was splendid in all directions". In Ikon's founding prospectus it declares:
838:
620:
The gallery's executive comprises Ian Hyde, Acting Chief
Executive, Melanie Pocock, Acting Artistic Director, Exhibitions and Dr Linzi Stauvers, Acting Artistic Director, Education.
1499:
1494:
529:. It was housed in a Victorian former chapel and Sunday school, with the words "Stay away from Lonely Places" prominently displayed on the façade - an artwork by Canadian artist
1489:
1035:
1479:
557:
The gallery features temporary exhibitions over two floors totalling 450 square metres (4,844 sq ft). A variety of media are represented, including
1413:
365:
and Roger
Westwood. Notable group shows included Midland Art Now featuring the work of 20 of the most prominent Midlands based artists including Roy Abell,
1408:
900:
720:
1504:
1016:
304:
shows, by which time the lease on the
Swallow Street premises came to an end. Under the direction of Simon Chapman (who had previously run the
846:
317:
1308:
316:
and a number of local charitable trusts and industry, Ikon re-located in The
Birmingham Shopping Centre, a newly built shopping mall above
145:
1440:
381:
and Peter
Tarrant, and which was accompanied by a full colour printed broadsheet catalogue distributed free to the 40,000 readers of the
1509:
1278:
1429:
513:
79:
822:
797:
467:
398:
977:
712:
1424:
788:
Watkins, Jonathan (2004). "Some of the best things in life happen accidentally". In Watkins, Jonathan; Stevenson, Diana (eds.).
612:
and raises additional income from a variety of sources, including charitable trusts and foundations and corporate sponsorship.
1338:
313:
1032:
926:
309:
141:
455:
By 1978, Ikon had again outgrown its premises and it moved to a former carpet shop in John Bright Street adjacent to the
72:
762:
463:
177:
1200:
592:
Education is at the heart of the Ikon's activities, stimulating public interest in and understanding of contemporary
325:
seeing modern and contemporary art by living artists. The opening show of large chalk on blackboard wall drawings by
1122:
276:
The gallery was then eventually established in 1965 in an octagonal glass-walled kiosk in Birmingham's then-new
1382:
676:
490:
436:
240:
609:
358:
292:
216:
212:
208:
414:
256:
181:
502:
456:
444:
326:
321:
277:
207:. Exhibitions rotate throughout the year so that as many pieces can be displayed as possible. Ikon is a
735:
284:. The venue was then staffed by the founding artists and sometimes their spouses on a voluntary basis.
1013:
813:
Stevenson, Diana (2004). "Interview - Robert Groves". In Watkins, Jonathan; Stevenson, Diana (eds.).
605:
736:"Birmingham on the cutting-edge - A groundbreaking gallery deserves this long-overdue retrospective"
305:
1375:
The Production Of Space At Ikon Gallery, Birmingham: From Art Object To Art Institution 1963-1978
1316:
680:
475:
410:
869:
329:
firmly established Birmingham as a city with a gallery devoted to the contemporary visual arts.
227:
545:
818:
793:
448:
1373:
1286:
1420:
881:
643:
582:
498:
494:
471:
386:
248:
157:
114:
1039:
1020:
688:
672:
656:
601:
482:
440:
432:
426:
406:
382:
362:
169:
1252:
378:
346:
244:
1174:
1096:
963:
951:
1473:
390:
374:
334:
265:
161:
61:
1226:
1346:
692:
668:
566:
370:
350:
342:
338:
252:
189:
839:"Some of the Best Things in Life Happen Accidentally 28 July – 12 September 2004"
1148:
684:
570:
422:
418:
402:
366:
269:
236:
200:
153:
930:
553:
The Ikon has an artistic programme consisting of three interdependent strands.
1074:
885:
593:
530:
486:
173:
165:
65:
1455:
1442:
992:
979:
94:
81:
664:
660:
578:
466:, in 1997 with the cost of the conversion partly funded by a grant from the
394:
354:
281:
196:
1052:
815:
Some of the best things in life happen accidentally: the beginning of Ikon
790:
Some of the best things in life happen accidentally: the beginning of Ikon
413:
curated by Nick Serota, Objects and Documents featuring works selected by
574:
204:
604:, registered as an educational charity. Ikon receives core funding from
28:
522:
273:
150:
235:"The Ikon" (as it is colloquially known) was founded by art collector
401:
as the venue for travelling exhibitions of contemporary art such as
320:. The fitting out of the gallery was designed by Walter Thomson of
312:
together with new funding from West Midlands Arts Association, The
558:
544:
512:
431:
226:
562:
288:
259:. The collection began after Skene bought Prentice's painting
195:
Featured artworks include all forms of media including sound,
231:
The Ikon Gallery logo just inside the entrance to the gallery
1403:
125:
389:
and featuring contemporary South Asian artists including
1485:
Art museums and galleries in Birmingham, West Midlands
1123:"Ikon Consciousness. Meditation. Watcher on the Hills"
1201:"Ikon Your Uncertainty of Colour Matching Experiment"
280:. The gallery's first exhibition displayed work by
715:
IKON GALLERY LIMITED, registered charity no. 528892
397:went on to tour internationally. Ikon replaced the
120:
110:
71:
57:
39:
462:The gallery moved to its current site, the former
1425:"Details from listed building database (1076214)"
353:, Harry Holland, David Leveritt, John Mitchell,
521:In July 2006, Ikon opened a second site in the
1033:Ikon Eastside confirms closure from April 2011
1500:Art museums and galleries established in 1965
1495:Former school buildings in the United Kingdom
421:, The Human Clay featuring works selected by
8:
792:. Birmingham: Ikon Gallery. pp. 36–38.
761:Campbell-Johnston, Rachel (25 August 2004).
481:In 2011, the Ikon Gallery started work with
21:
20:
964:Ron Terada - Stay Away From Lonely Places
817:. Birmingham: Ikon Gallery. p. 114.
470:. The refurbishment work was designed by
16:Contemporary Art gallery in Birmingham UK
721:Charity Commission for England and Wales
385:. Beyond Destination, a show curated by
1490:Grade II listed buildings in Birmingham
704:
952:Ikon Eastside opens its doors for 2006
1480:Contemporary art galleries in England
1372:Grousdanidou, Antonia (August 2010).
417:, An Element of Landscape curated by
7:
763:"Lip service paid to a Sixties icon"
655:Solo exhibitions since 2000 include
549:The Ikon Gallery from the entrance.
1430:National Heritage List for England
1414:1890 Ordnance Survey map of school
1315:. 16 December 2013. Archived from
1285:. 16 December 2013. Archived from
929:. The Space Studio. Archived from
14:
742:. Guardian News and Media Limited
734:Jennings, Rose (29 August 2004).
695:(November 2018 — February 2019)
399:Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
1345:. 4 January 2018. Archived from
369:, John Farrington, Dick French,
27:
1077:. Ikon Gallery. 1 November 2022
1055:. Ikon Gallery. 1 November 2022
901:"Ikon Gallery - Convert to Art"
640:Elizabeth Macgregor (1989–1999)
1505:1965 establishments in England
1409:Levitt Bernstein: Ikon Gallery
899:Mead, Andrew (30 April 1998).
845:. Ikon Gallery. Archived from
769:. London: Times Newspapers Ltd
1:
525:area of Birmingham, known as
56:
464:Oozells Street Board School
178:Oozells Street Board School
45:; 59 years ago
1526:
1510:Charities based in England
606:Arts Council West Midlands
239:and four artists from the
211:which is partly funded by
886:10.1080/09528829308576460
637:Antonia Payne (1981–1989)
634:Hugh Stoddart (1978–1981)
631:Simon Chapman (1972–1978)
278:Bull Ring shopping centre
35:
26:
1383:University of Birmingham
1019:8 September 2008 at the
491:A Real Birmingham Family
437:A Real Birmingham Family
261:Kate and the Waterlilies
241:Birmingham School of Art
1014:New Ikon Eastside Space
610:Birmingham City Council
293:Eastern Orthodox Church
217:Arts Council of England
213:Birmingham City Council
1309:"Ikon Ikon Icon 1980s"
1279:"Ikon Ikon Icon 2000s"
1175:"Ikon Tree with Roots"
993:52.477929°N 1.881881°W
550:
518:
505:, on 30 October 2014.
452:
301:
232:
182:John Henry Chamberlain
168:. It is housed in the
868:Cubitt, Sean (1993).
548:
516:
503:Library of Birmingham
495:bronze cast sculpture
445:Library of Birmingham
435:
322:Associated Architects
314:Gulbenkian Foundation
297:
230:
1343:www.ikon-gallery.org
1313:www.ikon-gallery.org
1283:www.ikon-gallery.org
1257:www.ikon-gallery.org
1253:"Richard Billingham"
1231:www.ikon-gallery.org
1227:"Ikon Manned Flight"
1205:www.ikon-gallery.org
1179:www.ikon-gallery.org
1153:www.ikon-gallery.org
1127:www.ikon-gallery.org
1101:www.ikon-gallery.org
1038:1 April 2012 at the
998:52.477929; -1.881881
907:. Architects Journal
870:"Beyond destination"
373:, Colin Hitchmough,
1452: /
989: /
933:on 18 December 2005
349:, Trevor Halliday,
306:Birmingham Arts Lab
91: /
23:
1456:52.4776°N 1.9125°W
1349:on 20 January 2021
681:Richard Billingham
651:Exhibiting artists
551:
541:Current activities
519:
493:'. The consequent
453:
318:New Street station
274:motorcycle sidecar
233:
209:registered charity
1097:"Santiago Sierra"
905:AJ Building Study
457:Alexandra Theatre
451:in the background
449:Baskerville House
357:, Peter Sedgely,
134:
133:
1517:
1467:
1466:
1464:
1463:
1462:
1461:52.4776; -1.9125
1457:
1453:
1450:
1449:
1448:
1445:
1434:
1421:Historic England
1393:
1391:
1389:
1381:(MPhil thesis).
1380:
1359:
1358:
1356:
1354:
1335:
1329:
1328:
1326:
1324:
1305:
1299:
1298:
1296:
1294:
1275:
1269:
1268:
1266:
1264:
1259:. 29 August 2013
1249:
1243:
1242:
1240:
1238:
1233:. 29 August 2013
1223:
1217:
1216:
1214:
1212:
1207:. 29 August 2013
1197:
1191:
1190:
1188:
1186:
1181:. 29 August 2013
1171:
1165:
1164:
1162:
1160:
1155:. 29 August 2013
1145:
1139:
1138:
1136:
1134:
1129:. 29 August 2013
1119:
1113:
1112:
1110:
1108:
1103:. 29 August 2013
1093:
1087:
1086:
1084:
1082:
1071:
1065:
1064:
1062:
1060:
1049:
1043:
1030:
1024:
1011:
1005:
1004:
1003:
1001:
1000:
999:
994:
990:
987:
986:
985:
982:
973:
967:
961:
955:
949:
943:
942:
940:
938:
923:
917:
916:
914:
912:
896:
890:
889:
865:
859:
858:
856:
854:
843:Programme - Past
835:
829:
828:
810:
804:
803:
785:
779:
778:
776:
774:
758:
752:
751:
749:
747:
731:
725:
724:
709:
644:Jonathan Watkins
624:Former directors
499:Centenary Square
472:Levitt Bernstein
468:National Lottery
387:Ian Iqbal Rashid
337:, Allen Barker,
310:The Arts Council
249:Sylvani Merilion
158:contemporary art
148:
130:
127:
115:Contemporary art
106:
105:
103:
102:
101:
96:
92:
89:
88:
87:
84:
53:
51:
46:
31:
24:
22:The Ikon Gallery
1525:
1524:
1520:
1519:
1518:
1516:
1515:
1514:
1470:
1469:
1460:
1458:
1454:
1451:
1446:
1443:
1441:
1439:
1438:
1419:
1400:
1387:
1385:
1378:
1371:
1368:
1366:Further reading
1363:
1362:
1352:
1350:
1337:
1336:
1332:
1322:
1320:
1307:
1306:
1302:
1292:
1290:
1277:
1276:
1272:
1262:
1260:
1251:
1250:
1246:
1236:
1234:
1225:
1224:
1220:
1210:
1208:
1199:
1198:
1194:
1184:
1182:
1173:
1172:
1168:
1158:
1156:
1147:
1146:
1142:
1132:
1130:
1121:
1120:
1116:
1106:
1104:
1095:
1094:
1090:
1080:
1078:
1073:
1072:
1068:
1058:
1056:
1051:
1050:
1046:
1040:Wayback Machine
1031:
1027:
1021:Wayback Machine
1012:
1008:
997:
995:
991:
988:
983:
980:
978:
976:
975:
974:
970:
962:
958:
950:
946:
936:
934:
925:
924:
920:
910:
908:
898:
897:
893:
880:(25): 103–104.
867:
866:
862:
852:
850:
837:
836:
832:
825:
812:
811:
807:
800:
787:
786:
782:
772:
770:
760:
759:
755:
745:
743:
733:
732:
728:
711:
710:
706:
701:
689:Cornelia Parker
677:Simon Patterson
673:Olafur Eliasson
657:Santiago Sierra
653:
626:
618:
602:limited company
543:
517:Fazeley Studios
511:
497:was erected in
483:Gillian Wearing
441:Gillian Wearing
427:Berenice Abbott
407:John Szarkowski
383:Birmingham Post
363:William Tillyer
225:
170:Grade II listed
144:
124:
99:
97:
93:
90:
85:
82:
80:
78:
77:
49:
47:
44:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1523:
1521:
1513:
1512:
1507:
1502:
1497:
1492:
1487:
1482:
1472:
1471:
1436:
1435:
1417:
1411:
1406:
1399:
1398:External links
1396:
1395:
1394:
1367:
1364:
1361:
1360:
1339:"Haroon Mirza"
1330:
1319:on 28 May 2018
1300:
1289:on 28 May 2018
1270:
1244:
1218:
1192:
1166:
1140:
1114:
1088:
1066:
1044:
1025:
1006:
968:
956:
944:
918:
891:
860:
849:on 17 May 2011
830:
823:
805:
798:
780:
753:
726:
703:
702:
700:
697:
652:
649:
648:
647:
641:
638:
635:
632:
625:
622:
617:
614:
598:
597:
590:
586:
542:
539:
510:
507:
501:, outside the
487:public artwork
485:, to create a
379:David Prentice
359:David Shepherd
347:Vaughan Grylls
245:David Prentice
224:
221:
180:, designed by
142:grid reference
132:
131:
122:
118:
117:
112:
108:
107:
95:52.47°N 1.91°W
75:
69:
68:
59:
55:
54:
41:
37:
36:
33:
32:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1522:
1511:
1508:
1506:
1503:
1501:
1498:
1496:
1493:
1491:
1488:
1486:
1483:
1481:
1478:
1477:
1475:
1468:
1465:
1432:
1431:
1426:
1422:
1418:
1415:
1412:
1410:
1407:
1405:
1402:
1401:
1397:
1384:
1377:
1376:
1370:
1369:
1365:
1348:
1344:
1340:
1334:
1331:
1318:
1314:
1310:
1304:
1301:
1288:
1284:
1280:
1274:
1271:
1258:
1254:
1248:
1245:
1232:
1228:
1222:
1219:
1206:
1202:
1196:
1193:
1180:
1176:
1170:
1167:
1154:
1150:
1144:
1141:
1128:
1124:
1118:
1115:
1102:
1098:
1092:
1089:
1076:
1070:
1067:
1054:
1048:
1045:
1041:
1037:
1034:
1029:
1026:
1022:
1018:
1015:
1010:
1007:
1002:
972:
969:
965:
960:
957:
953:
948:
945:
932:
928:
922:
919:
906:
902:
895:
892:
887:
883:
879:
875:
871:
864:
861:
848:
844:
840:
834:
831:
826:
824:1-904864-02-3
820:
816:
809:
806:
801:
799:1-904864-02-3
795:
791:
784:
781:
768:
764:
757:
754:
741:
737:
730:
727:
722:
718:
716:
708:
705:
698:
696:
694:
690:
686:
682:
678:
674:
670:
666:
662:
658:
650:
645:
642:
639:
636:
633:
630:
629:
628:
623:
621:
615:
613:
611:
607:
603:
595:
591:
587:
584:
580:
576:
572:
568:
564:
560:
556:
555:
554:
547:
540:
538:
534:
532:
528:
527:Ikon Eastside
524:
515:
509:Ikon Eastside
508:
506:
504:
500:
496:
492:
488:
484:
479:
477:
473:
469:
465:
460:
458:
450:
446:
442:
438:
434:
430:
428:
424:
420:
416:
415:Richard Smith
412:
408:
404:
400:
396:
392:
391:Sutapa Biswas
388:
384:
380:
376:
375:John Melville
372:
368:
364:
360:
356:
352:
348:
344:
340:
336:
335:Ivor Abrahams
330:
328:
323:
319:
315:
311:
307:
300:
296:
294:
290:
285:
283:
279:
275:
271:
267:
262:
258:
257:Robert Groves
254:
250:
246:
242:
238:
229:
222:
220:
218:
214:
210:
206:
202:
198:
193:
191:
185:
183:
179:
175:
171:
167:
163:
162:Brindleyplace
160:, located in
159:
155:
152:
147:
143:
139:
129:
123:
119:
116:
113:
109:
104:
76:
74:
70:
67:
63:
62:Brindleyplace
60:
42:
38:
34:
30:
25:
19:
1437:
1428:
1404:Ikon Gallery
1386:. Retrieved
1374:
1351:. Retrieved
1347:the original
1342:
1333:
1321:. Retrieved
1317:the original
1312:
1303:
1291:. Retrieved
1287:the original
1282:
1273:
1261:. Retrieved
1256:
1247:
1235:. Retrieved
1230:
1221:
1209:. Retrieved
1204:
1195:
1183:. Retrieved
1178:
1169:
1157:. Retrieved
1152:
1143:
1131:. Retrieved
1126:
1117:
1105:. Retrieved
1100:
1091:
1079:. Retrieved
1069:
1057:. Retrieved
1047:
1042:Ikon Gallery
1028:
1023:Ikon Gallery
1009:
971:
966:Urban Fusion
959:
954:Urban Fusion
947:
935:. Retrieved
931:the original
921:
909:. Retrieved
904:
894:
877:
873:
863:
851:. Retrieved
847:the original
842:
833:
814:
808:
789:
783:
771:. Retrieved
766:
756:
744:. Retrieved
740:The Observer
739:
729:
714:
707:
693:Haroon Mirza
669:Marcel Dzama
654:
627:
619:
599:
583:installation
552:
535:
526:
520:
480:
461:
454:
371:William Gear
351:David Hepher
343:John Copnall
339:Barry Burman
331:
302:
298:
286:
270:post offices
260:
253:Jesse Bruton
234:
194:
190:bank holiday
186:
138:Ikon Gallery
137:
135:
126:ikon-gallery
100:52.47; -1.91
18:
1459: /
1416:(in centre)
1353:15 December
1149:"Roy Arden"
1081:23 December
1059:21 December
996: /
927:"Cafe Ikon"
685:Julian Opie
646:(1999–2022)
571:photography
476:contractors
447:(left) and
443:, with the
423:R. B. Kitaj
419:Jeremy Rees
405:curated by
403:Diane Arbus
367:Barrie Cook
327:John Walker
237:Angus Skene
203:as well as
201:photography
98: /
73:Coordinates
40:Established
1474:Categories
1444:52°28′39″N
1053:"The Team"
981:52°28′41″N
874:Third Text
699:References
600:Ikon is a
594:visual art
531:Ron Terada
174:neo-gothic
166:Birmingham
66:Birmingham
1447:1°54′45″W
1075:"History"
984:1°52′55″W
767:The Times
665:Roy Arden
661:On Kawara
579:sculpture
411:Chris Orr
395:Alia Syed
355:John Salt
282:John Salt
205:paintings
197:sculpture
192:Mondays.
184:in 1877.
1036:Archived
1017:Archived
911:24 March
853:24 March
773:24 March
575:painting
565:, mixed
149:) is an
146:SP060866
58:Location
746:7 March
523:Digbeth
291:of the
266:cinemas
223:History
176:former
154:gallery
151:English
121:Website
83:52°28′N
48: (
1388:28 May
1323:27 May
1293:27 May
1263:27 May
1237:27 May
1211:27 May
1185:27 May
1159:27 May
1133:27 May
1107:27 May
937:7 June
821:
796:
691:, and
425:, and
86:1°55′W
1379:(PDF)
616:Staff
589:whom.
567:media
559:sound
289:icons
272:in a
1390:2018
1355:2018
1325:2018
1295:2018
1265:2018
1239:2018
1213:2018
1187:2018
1161:2018
1135:2018
1109:2018
1083:2022
1061:2022
939:2008
913:2008
855:2008
819:ISBN
794:ISBN
775:2008
748:2008
608:and
581:and
563:film
489:of '
393:and
268:and
255:and
215:and
199:and
136:The
128:.org
111:Type
50:1965
43:1965
882:doi
439:by
156:of
1476::
1427:.
1423:.
1341:.
1311:.
1281:.
1255:.
1229:.
1203:.
1177:.
1151:.
1125:.
1099:.
903:.
876:.
872:.
841:.
765:.
738:.
719:.
687:,
683:,
679:,
675:,
671:,
667:,
663:,
659:,
577:,
573:,
569:,
561:,
533:.
478:.
459:.
429:.
409:,
377:,
361:,
345:,
341:,
251:,
247:,
243:,
219:.
172:,
164:,
64:,
1433:.
1392:.
1357:.
1327:.
1297:.
1267:.
1241:.
1215:.
1189:.
1163:.
1137:.
1111:.
1085:.
1063:.
941:.
915:.
888:.
884::
878:7
857:.
827:.
802:.
777:.
750:.
723:.
717:"
713:"
585:.
140:(
52:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
