A Continuous Circulation: Artists and Art Education in Mid-century Leeds – Selections from the archive of Maurice de Sausmarez

Discover Leeds’ history as a centre for new thinking on art education, through the archive of an artist in the middle of it all.

Let us introduce you to artist, writer, and educator, Maurice de Sausmarez (1915-69), and his significant influence on the way we teach art.

Through a curated exhibition of his archive, we’ll take you to 1950s Leeds. In the aftermath of World War II, there’s post-war consensus in the need for new hope, new social systems, and new thinking. The city at this time is a dynamic meeting point for artist-educators, engaged in responding to a society changed by war.

A Department of Fine Art has been newly created at the University of Leeds. It is led by a man who believes the arts have a vital role to play. He takes an experimental approach to art education, emphasising the development of an artist’s curiosity. He lays the foundations of a distinctive way of teaching that combines art history and theory with art practice. And he is deeply involved in the cultural life of the city and region, with the exchange and debate of new practices. His name is Maurice de Sausmarez.

A Continuous Circulation showcases material from the Maurice de Sausmarez Archive, held in the University of Leeds’ Cultural Collections. Exhibited for the first time, this material sheds new light on his critical role in the advancement of art education in England. The display includes writings, artworks, exhibition catalogues, prospectuses, and correspondence with artists. These reveal the personal and professional associations that enabled a circulation of ideas among artists teaching in Leeds.

The exhibition is curated by Dr Kerry Harker, Bridget Riley Art Foundation Fellow. The exhibition is generously supported by the Bridget Riley Art Foundation.