Touchstones awarded Henry Moore Foundation grant to conserve Veronica Ryan sculpture
Touchstones is delighted to announce that we have been awarded a grant from the Henry Moore Foundation to conserve Repetition (1989), a significant early wall-mounted sculpture by internationally acclaimed artist Veronica Ryan.
The work, made from pierced lead, was donated to our collection by the Contemporary Art Society and first exhibited at Rochdale Art Gallery in 1992 as part of Columbus Drowning, a major show curated by Maud Sulter to mark 500 years of rebellion. This period represents an important chapter in our history, when an all‑women curatorial team led by Jill Morgan championed artists who were often excluded from mainstream institutions.
Conserving a Seminal Early Work
Over the past decade, Repetition has become fragile and unstable. The latex backing has deteriorated meaning the sculpture can no longer be safely displayed.
After close conversations with Veronica Ryan and a conservation assessment to provide clear details of necessary repairs, we are now proud to be able to support Ryan to restore the work to its original condition. The Henry Moore Foundation grant will support this conservation process, funding materials and equipment as well as contributing to Ryan’s time and expertise.
Heading to Whitechapel Gallery
Once restored, Repetition will be included in Veronica Ryan’s major survey exhibition at Whitechapel Gallery, Veronica Ryan: Multiple Conversations, from Wednesday 1 April to Sunday 14 June.
Veronica Ryan: Multiple Conversations – Whitechapel Gallery
This will be the most extensive presentation of Ryan’s work ever staged in the UK, spanning four decades of her practice. The exhibition will explore themes central to Ryan’s work, including natural materials, memory, healing, and the networks that shape production and exchange.
Returning to Rochdale
Once conserved, Repetition will return to Touchstones and be available to loan to other institutions. The work forms a pivotal part of our collecting history and our ongoing commitment to making visible the radical artistic activity that took place here in the 1980s and 1990s.
A quote from Maud Sulter in an exhibition catalogue explains the essence of this period:
“Jaune Quick-to-see Smith, Lubainia Himid, Magdalene Odundo, Robyn Kahukiwa and Veronica Ryan are professional artists who address in their work the pleasures and challenges of life in the later 20th century. The passion of these artists is strengthened by the delight they take in being true to the facets of their identity. Not for them a comfortable spot on the margin. They claim the centre of their birthrite [sic]. In 1992 Women Artists of Colour address their world […] which is our world also”
This conservation project also aligns with our ongoing archival research, supported by the Paul Mellon Centre, to document and digitise material from this period. Together with posters, letters, contracts, slides and catalogues, Ryan’s restored sculpture will contribute to a fuller understanding of the pioneering work undertaken in Rochdale during these decades.
A Legacy for Future Generations
The conservation of Repetition will ensure that this important artwork can be enjoyed by audiences today and preserved for the future. We are deeply grateful to the Henry Moore Foundation for supporting this vital work and helping us safeguard this artistic heritage.
