Sylvia Sleigh's first UK exhibition in 60 years opens in London

At 48 Russell Square in Bloomsbury, London, Daniel Malarkey is showcasing a solo exhibition of Sylvia Sleigh (1916-2010), a painter originally from Wales, which will be open until 15 July 2026. This marks the first UK display of Sleigh’s work in sixty years. The exhibition highlights her artistic journey, featuring early still lifes and landscapes alongside her famous portraits and male nudes. In the 1930s, Sleigh attended Brighton School of Art, where she noted gender biases in life-drawing classes. After moving to London and meeting critic Lawrence Alloway, she relocated to New York City in 1961, joining a community that included Joan Semmel and Alice Neel. Sleigh painted Alloway over 50 times and created group portraits of female artists such as Agnes Denes and Nancy Spero. Her male nudes sparked debate due to their intimate and respectful nature. Among the works displayed is The Bridge (1963), a reclining nude that exemplifies realism. Daniel Malarkey serves as the exhibition's curator.