Walker uncovers Banksy's mutilated head
The Walker Art Gallery is set to unveil a new addition to its collection this week – a statue of a Priest vandalised by Banksy.
'The renowned graffiti artist has sawn off the face of an 18th Century replica stone bust and glued on a selection of bathroom tiles.
The resulting 'pixellated' portrait is entitled Cardinal Sin and is believed to be a comment on the abuse scandal in the Church and its subsequent cover- up.
“I’m never sure who deserves to be put on a pedestal or crushed under one”
said Banksy.
The sculpture, which has been loaned indefinitely by the artist and has never been seen before, will be exhibited in one of the Walker’s 17th-century Old Master galleries. Works in the gallery include large church altarpieces and religious sculpture.
Reyahn King, Director of Art Galleries at National Museums Liverpool said:
"We are thrilled to display the work of this major contemporary artist. It is a huge coup and we're sure his work will spark a reaction with visitors. Banksy specified that it be shown alongside our period collection and we were very happy to oblige.”
Home to outstanding works by Rubens, Rembrandt, Poussin and Gainsborough, the Walker Art Gallery is one of the finest art galleries in Europe. The collection includes Renaissance masterpieces, Tudor portraits and one of the best collections of Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite art in the country such as Dante’s Dream by Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
The Walker also houses modern and contemporary work by artists such as David Hockney, Louise Bourgeois and Lucian Freud and is home to the John Moores Painting Prize, the UK’s biggest painting prize.
Notes for editors
For more information about the artist Banksy, please contact Jo Brooks Public Relations - job@jb-pr.com 0127 362 2555 / 07930 432508
For all other enquiries please contact the National Museums Liverpool press office.
About National Museums Liverpool
National Museums Liverpool comprises eight venues. Our collections are among the most important and varied in Europe and contain everything from Impressionist paintings and rare beetles to a lifejacket from the Titanic.
We attract 2.6 million visitors every year. Our venues are World Museum, the Walker Art Gallery, Merseyside Maritime Museum, International Slavery Museum, UK Border Agency National Museum, Sudley House and the Lady Lever Art Gallery.
In July 2011, our eighth venue, the Museum of Liverpool, opened at the city's Pier Head, part of the city's World Heritage Site. The museum tells the definitive story of Liverpool and its people and contains more than 6,000 items.