Happy & Glorious: Coronation Commissions from the Government Art Collection

The Government Art Collection are hosting a public exhibition at The National Archives, in London, showcasing pieces commissioned for the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Artwork by leading British and British-based artists will be on display, including Venture Arts’ very own Leslie Thompson, who in 2023 was selected by the Government Art Collection to create artwork for this prestigious commission.

Leslie’s work will be display, alongside pieces from Vanley Burke, Joy Gerrard, Sophie Gerrard, Mohamed Hassan, Dale Lewis, Hew Locke and Cornelia Parker.

Through this commission, Leslie created a series of artworks titled, Many Of The TV Screens Everywhere, in which he illustrated a TV screen airing the Coronation amidst various groups of people and animals, including London Zoo, the Muppets, the A Team, Hollywood actors and a London pub.

This exhibition will run for six months, with a programme specifically designed to engage schools and young people. The artworks capture events that took place over the Coronation weekend and covered the breadth of the UK, from London and Birmingham, to Belfast and rural communities in Scotland.

Arts Minister Sir Chris Bryant said: 

“Showing off the phenomenal work of some of our great artists is a vital part of explaining to the world how much we value our creative industries. The Government Art Collection has supported artists from across the UK for 125 years, putting them on the world stage and giving them the recognition and opportunities they deserve.”