Public Programmes

Frank Auerbach: London Building Sites 1952-62

16 October 2009 - 17 January 2010

This was the first exhibition to bring together the seminal group of paintings of London building sites by Frank Auerbach (born 1931). These extraordinary paintings are among the most important contributions to post-war painting in Britain.

Accompanying the exhbition were the full resources we offer to teachers, lecturers and educators including Teachers Packs, online videos, podcasts, free gallery leafelts, gallery talks and gallery music events.

The exhibition reunited the complete series of building site paintings together with rarely seen oil sketches and a number of recently rediscovered sketchbook drawings. The works are among the most important contributions to post-war painting in Britain, produced at a time when Auerbach emerged alongside Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud as part of a powerful new generation of British painters. More about the exhibition

Watch three movies about the exhibition

Listen to five podcasts of Frank Auerbach talking about his early work

Frank Auerbach: London Building Sites 1952-62 Teachers Resource