Museums and galleries
Prints by Lucian Freud and other 20th century British greats to come to Walsall this winter
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Prints by acclaimed 20th century British artists, including Lucian Freud and Frank Auerbach will go on show at The New Art Gallery Walsall later this year. The major exhibition, opening in November, will feature artworks acquired by the Gallery for Walsall’s Permanent Collection through the Cultural Gifts Scheme, administered by Arts Council England.
The works come from the archive of London based Studio Prints, which was established by the artist Dorothea Wight (1944-2013) in 1968. Wight, alongside her husband, Marc Balakjian (1938-2017), produced prints for world-renowned British 20th century artists for over 40 years.
As well as being master printmakers who worked alongside other artists, they were also extremely accomplished artists in themselves, particularly noted for their mastery of the difficult mezzotint technique.
The Gallery has had a close relationship with the Balakjian family since 2013, when they worked with Marc Balakjian to celebrate the legacy of his late wife, whose work was already part of Walsall’s Permanent Collection.
Balakjian also had a particularly close relationship with Lucian Freud. They worked together for over 20 years, supporting him in the development of his etchings and producing some of his most well-known and best regarded prints. Balakjian also contributed an essay to Freud’s print catalogue raisonné, listing all known print works by the artist, published in 2022.
The exhibition, taking place from 7 November 2025 – 12 April 2026 will also include works by Stephen Conroy, Leon Kossoff, Celia Paul as well as Dorothea Wight and Marc Balakjian.
“ We’re honoured to receive such a remarkable gift. The collection not only elevates Walsall’s cultural offering but will also attract art lovers from near and far to experience these pieces from some of the most important British artists of the 20th century. The exhibition will top off celebrating a wonderful 25th year for the Gallery. I’m looking forward to seeing them on show later in the year. “
“ The Cultural Gifts scheme enables UK taxpayers to donate important works of art, and other heritage objects, to benefit the nation. It provides a vital pipeline for artworks and objects to pass from private collections, into the public domain, ensuring that the very best in creativity and culture is available for more people to enjoy.
“We’re proud to administer this scheme and I’m thrilled that these wonderful prints by internationally renowned artist, including leading 20th century portraiture artist Lucian Freud, have been gifted to The New Art Gallery Walsall for the people of the town and beyond to experience. I’m certain they will fascinate, educate and inspire locals and visitors alike for many years to come. “
Studio Prints: Celebrating the Balakjian Collection
7 November 2025 – 12 April 2026. The New Art Gallery Walsall
Frank Auerbach, Marc Balakjian, Stephen Conroy, Lucian Freud, Leon Kossoff, Celia Paul, Dorothea Wight
A major exhibition, featuring artworks acquired for Walsall’s Permanent Collection through the Cultural Gifts Scheme, administered by Arts Council England.
The works come from the archive of London based Studio Prints, which was established by the artist Dorothea Wight (1944-2013) in 1968. Wight, alongside her husband, Marc Balakjian (1938-2017), produced prints for world-renowned British artists for over 40 years.
Alongside this major exhibition, we present a selection of prints from the Gallery’s Collections, including works by Christiane Baumgartner, Glenn Brown, Tracey Emin, Ken Kiff, Karen McLean and Chris Ofili.
Studio Prints: Celebrating the Balakjian Collection | The New Art Gallery Walsall
About The New Art Gallery Walsall
The New Art Gallery Walsall presents, collects and interprets historic, modern and contemporary art in innovative and challenging ways, welcoming visitors from all over the globe as well as our immediate locality. They aim to increase the understanding and enjoyment of arts and culture through a dynamic exhibition, education and events programme.
The New Art Gallery Walsall is funded by revenue support from Walsall Council and Arts Council England. The New Art Gallery Walsall is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.
Open: Tuesday – Saturday 10am-5pm; Sundays 12-4pm. Closed Mondays and Bank Holidays. Free admission www.thenewartgallerywalsall.org.uk
About the Cultural Gifts Scheme Allocation
The Cultural Gifts Scheme was launched by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport in March 2013 as an important element of its expanding programme to encourage charitable giving and philanthropy in culture and the arts. The Acceptance in Lieu Panel, chaired by Michael Clarke CBE, advises Ministers on all objects offered under the Cultural Gifts Scheme. The Scheme is administered by the Arts Council and enables UK taxpayers to donate, during their lifetime, objects which are pre-eminent for the benefit of the public or the nation, in return for a reduction in the donor’s corporation, income tax or capital gain tax liability, based on a set percentage of the value of the object they offer. The circumstances require the object to be pre-eminent and to be donated for the benefit of the public or the nation. The donation must also be made, registered and accepted in accordance with the Scheme. As well as constituting the Scheme for the purposes of Schedule 14 to the Finance Act 2012.
Although the CGS shares many similarities with the Acceptance in Lieu Scheme (the “AIL Scheme”) which allows works of art, land and buildings to be accepted into public ownership in lieu of inheritance tax or one of its predecessors Capital Transfer Tax and Estate Duty. CGS is different in that it provides an opportunity, where certain conditions are met, for owners of objects or collections of objects, who wish to see those objects placed in eligible institutions in the UK, to make a gift of the object during their lifetime.
About Arts Council England
Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. Our vision, set out in our strategy Let’s Create, is that by 2030, we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish, and where every one of us has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences. Between 2023 and 2026 we will have invested over £467 million of public money from Government, alongside an estimated £250 million each year from The National Lottery, to help ensure that people in every part of the country have access to culture and creativity in the places where they live. Until Autumn 2025, the National Lottery is celebrating its 30th anniversary of supporting good causes in the United Kingdom: since the first draw was held in 1994, it has raised £49 billion and awarded more than 690,000 individual grants.
Visit our website to learn more about our work.
