This website containing my private collection of fifty-six works by all twelve founder members of the 56 Group, which subsequently renamed itself The 56 Group Wales, is published in tribute to their contribution to Welsh art. It is my belief that as a group they have never been fully appreciated and I am sure all those who have generously assisted will join me in hoping this website will go some way towards recognising their achievements.
Barrie Maskell, 2014
Barrie Maskell, 2014
An extract from Nicholas Thornton's speech given whilst opening the '56 Group - Then' exhibition and the launch of the book, "TWELVE/56: 12 artists in 1956 Wales and beyond" by Barrie Maskell and Ceri Thomas on 11th December 2012 at Oriel y Bont, Ty Crawshay, University of Glamorgan, Wales. Now the University of South Wales.
Working in a museum and occasionally collecting work for the national collection I realise just how difficult it is to collect a cohesive and such an important group of works and thanks from all of us need to go to Barrie Maskell for such an important collection. I know just how difficult it must have been to assemble this group of works: I have been chasing some of these artists myself for a number of years and haven't managed to get work half as good as some of these works you see here today.
- Nicholas Thornton Head of modern and contemporary art Amguedda Cymru-National Museum Wales Cardiff
