ͯÑÕÊÓÆµ

  • Skip to content
  • Skip to footer
  • Accessibility options
ͯÑÕÊÓÆµ
  • About us
  • Business and
    employers
  • Alumni and
    supporters
  • For
    students
  • Accessibility
    options
Open menu
Home
Home
  • Close
  • Study here
    • Get to know us
    • Why choose ͯÑÕÊÓÆµ?
    • Explore our prospectus
    • Chat to our students
    • Ask us a question
    • Meet us
    • Open days and visits
    • Virtual tours
    • Applicant days
    • Meet us in your country
    • Campuses
    • Our campuses
    • Our city
    • Accommodation options
    • Our halls
    • Helping you find a home
    • What you can study
    • Find a course
    • Full A-Z course list
    • Explore our subjects
    • Our academic departments
    • How to apply
    • Undergraduate application process
    • Postgraduate application process
    • International student application process
    • Apprenticeships
    • Transfer from another university
    • International students
    • Clearing
    • Funding your time at uni
    • Fees and financial support
    • What's included in your fees
    • ͯÑÕÊÓÆµ Boost – extra financial help
    • Advice and guidance
    • Advice for students
    • Guide for offer holders
    • Advice for parents and carers
    • Advice for schools and colleges
    • Supporting you
    • Your academic experience
    • Your wellbeing
    • Your career and employability
  • Research
    • Research and knowledge exchange
    • Research and knowledge exchange organisation
    • The Global Challenges
    • Centres of Research Excellence (COREs)
    • Research Excellence Groups (REGs)
    • Information for business
    • Community University Partnership Programme (CUPP)
    • Postgraduate research degrees
    • PhD research disciplines and programmes
    • PhD funding opportunities and studentships
    • How to apply for your PhD
    • Research environment
    • Investing in research careers
    • Strategic plan
    • Research concordat
    • News, events, publications and films
    • Featured research and knowledge exchange projects
    • Research and knowledge exchange news
    • Inaugural lectures
    • Research and knowledge exchange publications and films
    • Academic staff search
  • About us
  • Business and employers
  • Alumni, supporters and giving
  • Current students
  • Accessibility
Search our site
Aerial view of the Moulsecoomb campus
About us
  • Your university
  • Governance and structure
  • Working with us
  • Statistics and legal
  • News and events
  • Contact us
  • News and events
    • News and events
    • News
    • Events
    • Coronavirus
    • Livestream
    • Open lectures
    • Term dates
  • News
    • News
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013

University gallery stages pioneering show of 'lost genius' US artist

The first UK solo exhibition at a public gallery of work by American artist Bill Lynch has opened at ͯÑÕÊÓÆµ's CCA gallery, until 15 October.

22 August 2022

The university's Centre for Contemporary Arts spotlights an outstanding artist who died from cancer in 2013 at the age of 53, having never had an exhibition of his work. However, a posthumous retrospective at White Columns in New York in 2014 led to New York Times critic Roberta Smith writing: ‘Genius lands where genius will, and... some alighted on Bill Lynch’. That judgement was echoed this month by The Observer's art critic Laura Cumming, who hailed the ͯÑÕÊÓÆµ show as a coup, highlighting perhaps 'The greatest American artist you've never heard of'.

ͯÑÕÊÓÆµ CCA puts the showcasing of new and undiscovered work at the heart of its programming, and its artistic director Ben Roberts has been keen to create a show of Lynch's paintings since his first glimpse of them at a commercial gallery in Berlin eight years ago.

Bill Lynch

Bill Lynch

Bill Lynch picture, taken by Abigail Sanderson

Bill Lynch picture, taken by Abigail Sanderson

The ͯÑÕÊÓÆµ CCA exhibition - titled The Exile of Dionysus - focuses on the artist's interest in ancient cultures, mythology and art history. Lynch chose to paint directly onto salvaged scrap wood, whose knots and imperfections he incorporated into the work. His subjects were often from nature - birds, animals, trees, landscapes - sometimes infused with elements of traditional Chinese painting. As Lynch said of his own paintings, "The idea is to give a glimpse at another world... by close examination of this one."

Ben Roberts, Artistic Director at ͯÑÕÊÓÆµ CCA, said: "As a young man Lynch arrived to study at Cooper Union in New York around 1978, and was described by his friend, the artist Verne Dawson: ‘He radiated a physical energy that was incandescent'. The exhibition title is a reference to the Greek god of wine, parties, theatre, harvest, madness and ecstasy.

"Lynch was a powerful force, but during his time in New York, he lived on the fringes – social, passionate, a huge fan of rock 'n' roll and dedicated to his work, but never embraced by the New York art world of the 1970s and 80s. But interest in Bill's work has rightly been growing in recent years, and we're very fortunate to have been able to work with his Estate to present this exhibition featuring many works which have never been seen before."

The Exile of Dionysus exhibition of paintings by Bill Lynch continues at ͯÑÕÊÓÆµ's CCA Gallery, 58–67 Grand Parade, ͯÑÕÊÓÆµ BN2 0JY, until 15 October 2022.

Bill Lynch pictures

Back to top

Contact us

ͯÑÕÊÓÆµ
Mithras House
Lewes Road
ͯÑÕÊÓÆµ
BN2 4AT

Main switchboard 01273 600900

Course enquiries

Sign up for updates

University contacts

Report a problem with this page

Quick links Quick links

  • Courses
  • Open days
  • Explore our prospectus
  • Academic departments
  • Academic staff
  • Professional services departments
  • Jobs
  • Privacy and cookie policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Libraries
  • Term dates
  • Maps
  • Graduation
  • Site information
  • The Student Contract

Information for Information for

  • Current students
  • International students
  • Media/press
  • Careers advisers/teachers
  • Parents/carers
  • Business/employers
  • Alumni/supporters
  • Suppliers
  • Local residents