11 November 2021 – October 2022
The Higgins House – Free Entry
In 2013, artist Arabel Lebrusan received several crates of confiscated knives and weapons from Bedfordshire Police. Through photography, drawings, sculpture, jewellery and audio, this display curated by Arabel explores our complex relationship with knives, and whether the meaning of an object can be re-established and transformed to evoke different emotions.
To accompany the exhibition, there will be a new website highlighting the objects on display, online workshops and a publication featuring community writers. Please keep an eye on this page for updates.
Image: © Arabel Lebrusan
Edward Bawden: Artist Plantsman
29 January 2022 - January 2023
Edward Bawden Gallery, Free Entry
Explore Edward Bawden’s love of plants and gardens in this exhibition of all things botanical. Drawn exclusively from the Edward Bawden archive, view early wallpaper designs, advertising commissions and iconic linocuts.
Image: Edward Bawden (1903-1989) Autumn, 1960 © The Edward Bawden Estate
Quilla Constance - Teasing Out Contingencies
16 February – 19 June 2022
Sir William Harpur Gallery – Free Entry
Experience a new painting-installation by interdisciplinary artist Quilla Constance (aka QC). QC’s artworks for this exhibition are set against opulent interiors from Buckingham Palace and inspired by performative interactions and conversations with the public across London and the South East, through a series of performance workshops at Tate Exchange/Tate Modern in 2019. QC's works for this show also reference her collaboration with presenter-comedians Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan for the TV docuseries 'Rob & Romesh Vs Art', Sky One.
Supported by Bedford Creative Arts, Bedford College, The Higgins Bedford, and Funded by Arts Council England.
Body and Soul
2 April 2022 - September 2023
Wixamtree and Connections Gallery – Free Entry
Drawn from the internationally renowned Cecil Higgins Art Gallery Collection, explore artists’ depictions of women over the past two centuries. Old and young, fleshy or ethereal, fashionably dressed or nude, this exhibition examines how beauty and femininity has been celebrated and challenged through the ages, whilst questioning our own modern perceptions.
Almost 60 watercolours, oils and prints will be on display, including works by Edgar Degas, Edvard Munch, Dora Carrington, Stanley Spencer, Henri Matisse, Gwen John, Roy Litchenstein and Chila Burman.
Image: Edvard Munch (1863–1944), Woman with a Brooch (Madonna), 1903 © Cecil Higgins Art Gallery (The Higgins Bedford)