Beryl Cook's Vibrant Legacy: A Retrospective of a Radical Artist
The city of Plymouth is set to celebrate the life and work of Beryl Cook, a pioneering British artist whose colourful paintings often fell victim to dismissive critics who saw her as a mere "kitsch" artist. A major retrospective exhibition, Pride and Joy, is now on its way to rectify this oversight, showcasing more than 80 paintings alongside rare sculptures, textiles, and access to Cook's personal archive.
Curator Terah Walkup describes the show as an "absolutely amazing moment for Beryl Cook," with her work being celebrated not just in Plymouth but across the UK. The exhibition takes place at a pivotal time – it is the centenary of Cook's birth, and 2026 marks half a century since she burst onto the art scene with her first exhibition.
Cook's adoption of Plymouth as her primary subject gave her a unique perspective on the city and its people. Her paintings are a testament to this – vibrant depictions of pubs, streets, and landmarks that continue to captivate audiences today. The show features works that "celebrate communities and identities actively marginalised," including queer culture and working-class joy.
Walkup highlights one particular painting, Bar Girls (1972), which depicts two women enjoying pints in a lively atmosphere. In a time when some pubs refused to serve women unaccompanied by men, Cook's work stood out for its radical celebration of female friendship.
Beyond the paintings, the exhibition delves into Cook's meticulous artistic process and her diverse influences, from seaside postcards to Amedeo Modigliani and Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Her methods reveal a masterful artist who mined media with purpose.
The impact of Cook's work cannot be overstated. Deputy leader of Plymouth city council Jemima Laing praises Cook for putting the city on the cultural map, painting its people "with warmth, humour and genuine affection." The show is seen as long overdue recognition, which will bring joy to audiences and celebrate Cook's legacy.
As part of this celebration, larger-than-life sculptures of some of her characters will be popping up across the city, embodying Plymouth's love letter to an artist who never stopped celebrating its residents. Julian Spalding, a writer and former museum director, hails Cook as one of Britain's greatest painters, citing her joy-driven approach to art.
Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy opens at The Box in Plymouth on January 24th, 2026, running until May 31st.
The city of Plymouth is set to celebrate the life and work of Beryl Cook, a pioneering British artist whose colourful paintings often fell victim to dismissive critics who saw her as a mere "kitsch" artist. A major retrospective exhibition, Pride and Joy, is now on its way to rectify this oversight, showcasing more than 80 paintings alongside rare sculptures, textiles, and access to Cook's personal archive.
Curator Terah Walkup describes the show as an "absolutely amazing moment for Beryl Cook," with her work being celebrated not just in Plymouth but across the UK. The exhibition takes place at a pivotal time – it is the centenary of Cook's birth, and 2026 marks half a century since she burst onto the art scene with her first exhibition.
Cook's adoption of Plymouth as her primary subject gave her a unique perspective on the city and its people. Her paintings are a testament to this – vibrant depictions of pubs, streets, and landmarks that continue to captivate audiences today. The show features works that "celebrate communities and identities actively marginalised," including queer culture and working-class joy.
Walkup highlights one particular painting, Bar Girls (1972), which depicts two women enjoying pints in a lively atmosphere. In a time when some pubs refused to serve women unaccompanied by men, Cook's work stood out for its radical celebration of female friendship.
Beyond the paintings, the exhibition delves into Cook's meticulous artistic process and her diverse influences, from seaside postcards to Amedeo Modigliani and Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Her methods reveal a masterful artist who mined media with purpose.
The impact of Cook's work cannot be overstated. Deputy leader of Plymouth city council Jemima Laing praises Cook for putting the city on the cultural map, painting its people "with warmth, humour and genuine affection." The show is seen as long overdue recognition, which will bring joy to audiences and celebrate Cook's legacy.
As part of this celebration, larger-than-life sculptures of some of her characters will be popping up across the city, embodying Plymouth's love letter to an artist who never stopped celebrating its residents. Julian Spalding, a writer and former museum director, hails Cook as one of Britain's greatest painters, citing her joy-driven approach to art.
Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy opens at The Box in Plymouth on January 24th, 2026, running until May 31st.
Just saw the news about Beryl Cook's retrospective exhibition in Plymouth and I'm beyond excited! 
It's amazing that her art is finally getting the recognition it deserves after all these years. Her vibrant paintings are not just kitsch, they're actually celebrating queer culture and working-class joy in a time when it was rare to see such representations on display. 
I mean, who wouldn't love Bar Girls (1972)? It's like she's bringing the pub to life with her colors! 
Can't wait to check out the sculptures popping up around the city - they're gonna be huge (no pun intended)! 
The fact that Cook's art is being celebrated at a time when it's more needed than ever is just the icing on the cake. We need more artists like Beryl Cook who aren't afraid to speak their truth and bring people together with their work. 
. And its amazing to see how her art celebrated marginalized communities and identities 
! Can't wait to see the retrospective exhibition in January, it's long overdue for sure 
.
. She had a way of capturing the essence of her city and its people in a way that feels both authentic and joyful. And can we talk about how awesome it is that she's being celebrated for her queer-friendly depictions of women? It's about time! 
. It's crazy that people back then didn't take her seriously, though. I reckon it's because they were too stuck on traditional art and all that stuff.
. And her love for Plymouth is so infectious! I mean, who wouldn't want to paint a city that's got such character? The way she captures the pubs, streets, and landmarks... it's like you're right there with her, having a pint down at the pub 
. People say she was just a "kitsch" artist, but I think that's so unfair – her work is like a big ol' hug in paint form 
I mean, it's about time her artwork was celebrated for what it truly is – a beautiful representation of the city and its people. But, you know, I do think some critics back in the day were way off base when they labeled her as just "kitsch" 
I'm all about embracing her unique style and perspective.
?
Beryl Cook's artwork is finally getting the recognition it deserves 
! Her paintings are so vibrant and colorful, they're like a party on canvas 
That's some serious power 
. It's like a piece of art history is being rediscovered 
. This retrospective is going to be EPIC 
!
honestly can't believe it took them this long to give Beryl Cook the recognition she deserves. I mean, her work has been around for decades and people still thought of her as some kind of novelty artist 
. It's a shame she had to deal with all that dismissiveness when she was alive. Glad they're finally showing her true value now 
. That retrospective exhibition sounds amazing btw 
it's about time we celebrated more female artists like Beryl Cook 
. This exhibition is gonna be a total game-changer for the city - it's not just a showcase of her art, but a celebration of joy and inclusivity 
. bar girls (1972) is, like, iconic 
. shes not just a great artist but also a true original 
️! the city council r doing her legacy proud 
And what's with all the hype around this retrospective exhibition? Is it just a way to boost tourism in Plymouth or is there something more to it? I'm not convinced that Cook's work was ever really misunderstood - wasn't she always seen as a bit of an outsider, but also someone who broke down barriers for others? 
. It's like, what even is kitsch? Is it just because the establishment didn't understand her unique perspective on the world?