South London Art Gallery

The origins of the South London Art Gallery can be traced back to 1868 when the local working men’s college opened in nearby Blackfriars Road. Despite a change of location it remained close by and merged into a free library the first in south London. The manager of these establishments one William Rossiter was instrumental in the purchasing of the freehold of Portland House located in Peckham Road in 1889 and installed himself in the property to begin work on building a new gallery in the grounds. The South London Art Gallery opened on 4th May 1891, showing a changing programme of fine and applied arts. A collection soon began from works donated by artists and subscribers to the Gallery. A Technical institute was built adjoining the gallery and would soon after become known as Camberwell School of Arts & Crafts.

The gallery’s permanent collection houses more than 5000 paintings, prints and sculpture ranging from the 16th Century to the present day. 20th Century artists represented include, John Piper, Duncan Grant, Christopher Wood, Marc Camille Chaimowicz, Tracey Emin, Antony Gormley, Anish Kapoor, Sean Scully, Gavin Turk and Mark Wallinger. Over the years major retrospective exhibitions of related artists have been held at the gallery. These include William Coldstream, Anthony Eyton, Martin Bloch and Mario Dubsky.

In October 2003 South London Art Gallery became an independent charitable which is now looked after by Southwark Culture and Heritage Services.

South London Art Group

Founded in 1921 the group developed from the Old Cambians which in turn came out of the Camberwell Sketch Club. The majority of members and exhibitors as the original title may suggest, had graduated from, or were associated with Camberwell School of Arts & Crafts. Many of the early works were wood engraving and members included Frank Medworth. They exhibited at the South London Art Gallery, conveniently situated adjoining Camberwell School in South London. Other members included painters Walter Bayes, J. Cosmo Clark, Henry George Cogle, Douglas Stannus Gray, David Jones, Morris Goldstein, Norman Janes, Gerald Kelly and sculptor Leslie Cubitt Bevis amongst others. Most of the Group's exhibitions were staged at the South London Art Gallery.