The New Vision Centre Gallery was one of the first galleries to elevate contemporary foreign artists, giving them a platform for group and solo exhibitions. Between 1956-1966, artists from 29 countries were exhibited, with an emphasis of those from the Commonwealth, including Gordon House, Aubrey Williams and Ian Stephenson.

Denis Bowen (South African/British 1921-2006)

Denis Bowen, a South African artist who was born in 1921, moved to Huddersfield, England where he was raised by his Aunt. In 1936, Bowen studied at the Huddersfield School of Art and after his service in the Second World War he enrolled at the Royal College of Art in 1946. Bowen moved into tuition and took positions at Birmingham School of Art, Central School of Art and Design, and Hammersmith School of Art throughout his career.

Lot 1 includes four monotypes with hand-colouring. These experimental prints from 1961/62 are from a period when Bowen was exploring Tachisme exploding with fluid, rapid strokes capturing a sense of rhythm and movement. These early studies experimented with atomic explosions and eruptions, sometimes titled ‘Vertical Image’ - a reoccurring theme in Bowen’s expression through art.

“Spontaneity of the construction of the image which engages the eye and quickens the senses.”

~ Denis Bowen

William John Bertram Newcombe (Canadian/British 1907-1969)

William Newcombe (Lots 3-9) was the subject of numerous one-man shows at the New Vision Centre Gallery in London in 1958, 1959, 1962, 1964 and 1965. During this period, he was also showcasing at the Galerie El Corsario, Ibiza (1956), Jerrold Morris Art Gallery, Toronto (1962) and other London galleries including Grosvenor Gallery in 1961, and Nicholas Treadwell Gallery in 1965. Born in Victoria, British Colombia, Newcombe grew up in Vancouver and lived between Toronto and London throughout his career. Working mainly with watercolours and ink, Newcombe explored abstraction through different colours and textures.

It was during Denis Bowen’s teaching position at the University of British Colombia in Vancouver that he was first introduced to William Newcombe.

Halima Nalecz (Polish1914-2008)

Lot 2 is a foliage study on paper by Halima Nalecz. She was one of the founding members of the New Vision Centre Gallery with Denis Bowen and was also the director of the Drian Gallery at Porchester Place. Nalecz was extremely influential on the post-war British art scene, supporting emerging artists and acting as patron for the arts throughout her career. Nalecz settled in London in 1956 with a strong vision of providing a platform and opportunity for young artists exploring themes of abstract expressionism in the 1960s. In 1957, Nalecz opened the Drian Gallery and hosted major exhibitions for artists such as William Crozer and John Bellany. Throughout her career, as an established artist and director of the Drian Gallery, Nalecz built her own collection, vowing to purchase a work of art by an artist to enter the permanent collection every time a painting of hers sold. This collection of over 500 works was donated to the Polish National Museum in 1983.

Auction Details

Friday 8 December | 10.30am GMT
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 2JE

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