A major exhibition of works by leading British artist Fiona Rae who made history last year is to be premiered at Leeds Art Gallery this week.

From Friday 11 May, the exhibition entitled ‘Maybe you can live on the moon in the next century’ will go on display at The Headrow gallery, showcasing 17 works from the last ten years of the career of the artist who in December became the first-ever female Professor of Painting for the Royal Academy Schools in London.

Over the last 25 years Rae has established herself as one of the leading painters of her generation with a distinctive body of work, which has set out to challenge the modern conventions of painting. The paintings selected for this exhibition are from a key period of Rae’s career when she began introducing signs and symbols from contemporary design as well as making reference to art history.

Rae first rose to prominence alongside Damien Hirst and Gary Hume as part of the now-famous 1988 exhibition ‘Freeze’ in London’s Docklands, which propelled the generation known as the ‘Young British Artists’ to stardom.

Her exhibition follows on from similar major exhibitions at Leeds Art Gallery last year by Hirst and this year by Hume, completing the triumvirate of former colleagues to showcase their work in Leeds.

Rae has enjoyed a hugely successful career of her own, being shortlisted for the Turner Prize in 1991 at the age of 27 and having her work exhibited all over Europe as well as America.

In 2002, she became a Royal Academician and from 2005 to 2009 served as a Tate Artist Trustee. Along with her prestigious role at the Royal Academy Schools, Rae is also the current recipient of the Tate Members’ Artist Commission which runs for three years ending next year.

Looking ahead to the exhibition opening in Leeds, artist Fiona Rae said: 'It's a privilege to be offered a solo show at Leeds Art Gallery and to have the opportunity to bring together paintings I've made over the last ten years. Leeds is an important centre for contemporary art, what with the Hepworth Wakefield close by, and of course the Henry Moore Institute and others. I'm delighted to be able to join the art discussion in Leeds and propose that painting can be the most exciting and relevant way to make contemporary art!'

Leeds City Council executive member for leisure Councillor Adam Ogilvie said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be welcoming an artist of the stature of Fiona Rae to Leeds Art Gallery and to be hosting this exhibition of her work.

“Following on from her former Freeze colleagues Damien Hirst and Gary Hume it makes a fantastic follow-on for Fiona’s work to also be on show at the gallery for everyone to see for free, and we look forward to opening the doors and seeing people of all ages admire her stunning works.”

‘Fiona Rae: Maybe you can live on the moon in the next century’ will be on display at Leeds Art Gallery from Friday 11 May until Sunday 26 August. Admission is free.

For more information on Leeds Art Gallery, visit www.leeds.gov.uk/artgallery/ or call 0113 247 8256.

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