The Pier Arts Centre in Orkney was established in 1978 to house a superlative collection that charts the development of British modernism, gathered by author, peace activist and philanthropist Margaret Gardiner. Her interest was deeply influenced by her friendship with the artist Barbara Hepworth; she was a key supporter of the artists drawn to St Ives, and a lover of Orkney, at the other end of the British Isles. The collection has grown through gifts and purchases and now numbers over 150 works. This catalogue, with texts by Nicholas Serota, Mel Gooding, Neil Firth, Margaret Gardiner, Patrick Heron and Alan Bowness, illustrates every work in the collection, and includes artists profiles and comments by Gardiner on individual works.

"One of the most distinguishcd and perfect of the smaller selections of twentieth-century art on permanent display anywhere in the world' - Patrick Heron

The Pier Arts Centre in Orkney was opened in 1979 to provide a home for a remarkable collection of British paintings and sculpture, Gathered together by author, peace activist and philanthropist Margaret Gardiner(1904-2005), the collection reflects the development of British Modernism throughout its formation and maturity.

Margaret Gardiner's interest in art was deeply influenced by her long friendship with the artist Barbara Hepworth.She came into contact with many of the principal figures in twentieth-century British art, including Hepworth's second husband, Ben Nicholson. Throughout the 1930s and '40s she was a key supporter and patron of the small group of artists who sought sanctuary in St Ives; she was also an early champion of the Cornish painter and seaman Alfred Wallis.Following the Second World War she encouraged a new generation of artists, including Terry Frost, Patrick Heron,Roger Hilton, Peter Lanyon, Margaret Mellis and John Wells.who had been drawn to St Ives by its growing reputation as a centre of innovation.

The collection found its permanent Scottish home when Margaret Gardiner donated the works to be 'held in trust for Orkney', which she had come to know and love over many years. Since then it has steadily grown through gifts and acquisitions, and it now numbers over 150 works.

The Centre's original listed buildings, once used as office and stores by the Hudson's Bay Company, were converted in t979 by Kate Heron and Axel Burrough of Levitt Bernstein Associates, and were sympathetically extended in 2007 by Neil Gillespie and David Anderson ofReiach & Hall Architects.

The Pier Arts Centre collection is introduced by Nicholas Serota and Mel Gooding and illuminated by Margaret Gardiner's own account of the Centre's origins,together with short texts by Patrick Heron and Alan Bowness.All the works are illustrated, supplemented by artists' profiles and commentaries by Margaret Gardiner on particular works.The result is a fitting tribute to the outward-looking and philanthropic spirit of a woman who influenced the shape of British twentieth-century art.

An Unfolding Gift Neil Firth

The Pier Arts Centre Nicholas Serota

Margaret's Gift Mel Gooding

The Launching of the Pier Arts Centre Margaret Gardiner

An Artist's View Patrick Heron

An Art Historian's View Alan Bowness

Part One

 Margaret Gardiner Founding Gift and Additions

Part Two

 Recent Additions to the Pier Collection

Part Three

 Orkney Works

Margaret Gardiner

The Collection

A Brief History of the Pier Arts Centre Buildings

Acknowledgments

Photo Credits

Copyright Credits