Original work by Percy Kelly will go on show later this year in a Lake District town.
Percy Kelly: Off the Wall will run from October 25 to November 15 at Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake.
The exhibition takes place across the Mezzanine and Circle levels and features an extraordinary selection of work on paper and original prints in charcoal, pencil and watercolour.
Curated by Chris Wadsworth, founder of Castlegate House Gallery and representative of the Percy Kelly estate, the show invites visitors to view the acclaimed West Cumbrian artist through a bold new lens.
All artworks will be available to buy, with proceeds donated to support Theatre by the Lake and its charitable mission.
Building on the success of last year’s Percy Kelly: Scene and Unseen, the new exhibition shines a spotlight on the unexpected narratives through Kelly’s work.
Alongside new discoveries, the exhibition will also feature his depictions of West Cumbria that remain central to his legacy.
Simon Stephens, executive director and joint CEO of Theatre by the Lake, said: “At Theatre by the Lake, we remain passionately committed to showcasing Cumbrian voices and celebrating the artists who shape our cultural landscape.
“Percy Kelly’s work is woven into the fabric of Cumbrian identity and continues to inspire and captivate.
“We are deeply grateful to Chris Wadsworth for her support and commitment to championing the region’s cultural heritage.”
Chris said: “Expect the unexpected. Percy Kelly died more than 30 years ago but he can still surprise and delight.
“Cumbria has many artists who are attracted by the pretty landscapes but Kelly’s stark charcoal and chalk, delicate watercolours and ink are very different and catch the deep feeling of place.
“As well as his West Cumbrian townscapes prepare for dramatic imagery: still lives, animals, fish and plants made when he was a student at Carlisle College of Art.
“Off the Wall invites you into the wilder corners of Kelly’s creative imagination, mischievous, experimental and defiantly unorthodox.”
Born in Workington, Percy Kelly remained deeply connected to the Cumbrian landscape throughout his life. Though often reclusive, he left behind a body of work rich in emotional depth and technical mastery.
A number of talks and events will take place during the exhibition’s run.
