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New exhibition at the Cooper Gallery showcases artworks by world renowned artists from JMW Turner to Bloomsbury’s Vanessa Bell
The Cooper Gallery is delighted to announce an upcoming free exhibition, Barnsley’s Radical Collector: The Sadler Gift from Turner to Bloomsbury, which will be held from Saturday 19 July 2025 until Saturday 3 January 2026.
Barnsley’s Radical Collector: The Sadler Gift from Turner to Bloomsbury will showcase a selection of paintings and drawings from a collection gifted by Sir Michael Sadler to the Cooper Gallery in the 1930s.
The exhibition features mid-18th century atmospheric watercolours, stunning sketches, bold modern paintings from the 1930s and much more.
Included are works by renowned British artists, such as Edward Wadsworth and Jacob Kramer as well as Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, who were part of the Bloomsbury Group. This was a group of early 20th century, critically acclaimed artists, writers, and philosophers.
This collection of British art was gifted to the Cooper Gallery in the 1930s by the late Sir Michael Sadler through the National Art Collections Fund (now Art Fund).
Drawings and paintings on loan from the Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery at the University of Leeds, will also feature in the exhibition. They will include experimental artwork by Bloomsbury Group artists and beautiful sketches created by artist Bernard Meninsky.
In 2024 and 2025, research on Sadler’s collection was carried out by freelance art curator and lecturer Melissa Gallimore. This has resulted in the creation of the gallery’s first digital catalogue of the collection. The research project was funded by the Trustees of The Cooper Gallery and Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust.
Upstairs in the Sadler Room, The Pleasure of Collecting exhibition, curated by artist Amanda Stoner, will also be on display. This will showcase Amanda’s unique collection of art, ceramics, and jewellery.
Councillor Robin Franklin, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said: “We are delighted to be holding such an exciting exhibition at the Cooper Gallery, which features Sir Michael Ernest Sadler’s collection of stunning artwork created by nationally renowned artists.
The research carried out as part of this project has been invaluable, offering a real insight into the artists and works included in the collection. We hope that this exhibition inspires people of all ages from across the borough to embrace new cultural experiences and learn more about Barnsley’s cultural heritage.”
Melissa Gallimore, freelance art curator and lecturer, said: “Researching the art works bought by Sir M E Sadler has provided a fascinating insight into how innovative and altruistic he was as a collector.
His support of living artists meant that his collection contained works by some of the most exciting artists of the early 20th century who went on to become key names in the history of art including Henry Moore and Paul Nash.”
For more information about the exhibition, please visit https://www.cooper-gallery.com/sadler
