After 18 months of closure due to the Covid pandemic and a great deal of necessary internal refurbishment and rearrangement, Tenby Museum and Art Gallery is set once again to reopen on Monday, September 9 with a wonderful new art exhibition, Ground Control by Tom Sloan.

Tom, a contemporary artist from Newport, Gwent, now lives and works in Tenby.

His passion for colour, expressive mark making and love of experimentation with media, makes for bold, striking, instantly recognisable artwork. Tom was recently seen on Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year 2020.

Drawing inspiration from every possibility that sparks his interest, Tom works in a very instinctive way and this exhibition showcases his unpredictable and unique range of subjects, styles and art processes, proving that ‘inspiration is everywhere’.

Curator Mark Lewis said: “I first got to know Tom through is work with the VC gallery in Haverfordwest and when he accepted my offer of an exhibition I was delighted.

“Then when Covid hit there was a natural period of uncertainty about whether the show would go ahead but we made the decision about a year ago to that the exhibition would happen!

“Tom then had a busy period to create the works for the show – out of the 37 works, I believe all but two were painted especially for the exhibition. It’s a wonderful exhibition and just what we all need right know – colourful, vibrant, imaginative, challenging and exciting. I am delighted that we can reopen with this as our first exhibition.”

Tom remarked: “I’m delighted to have been asked for my solo exhibition ‘Ground Control’ to feature at Tenby Museum and Art Gallery in the month of September and to be the first show here for the Gallery re-opening after multiple global pandemic lockdowns is even more exciting!

“The show will bring something different to Tenby, some themes and inspirations and certainly unconventional mediums/processes that have not been shown at this venue before, which I hope will make for an interesting, unpredictable exhibition.”

The exhibition is being officially opened on September 4 (invitation only) at the Museum and Art Gallery, with an event following that evening being hosted at The Nook on St Julian’s Street, spread across two sittings from 6 to 7.30 pm and 7.30 to 9 pm, where Tom’s work is available exclusively available to purchase.

Originals and prints of Tom’s work will be available to buy on the night at this ticket only event.

“I’m looking forward to the event at The Nook, and continuing the celebration of the exhibition opening,” continued Tom.

Tickets for this event are available directly from The Nook or the shop’s website at: www.thenooktenby.co.uk

Tom’s exhibition opens to the public at Tenby Museum and Art Gallery on September 9.

During September the museum is only open three days a week (Thursday to Saturday, between 10 am and 4 pm) and, due to necessary reduced numbers, it is advisable to either book using the link on the museum website or contact us to ensure your visit.