23 October 2026 – 21 February 2027
A major retrospective of prints by one of Britain’s most celebrated artists comes to Tunbridge Wells this autumn.
This autumn, The Amelia Scott presents Howard Hodgkin: In a Public Garden, a critically acclaimed exhibition bringing together more than 30 prints spanning five decades of the artist’s career, from 1966 to 2016.
Originally developed by Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery and curated by Richard Calvocoressi, this landmark exhibition showcases the work of Howard Hodgkin, whose vivid use of colour, expressive brushwork and deeply personal approach to abstraction made him one of Britain’s most distinctive post-war artists.
Featuring bold, gestural compositions that explore memory, emotion and place, the exhibition immerses visitors in Hodgkin’s unique visual world. The selected prints reveal the important role printmaking played throughout his practice and demonstrate his extraordinary ability to transform fleeting experiences into powerful images.
Highlights include Venetian Views (1995), a rarely reunited series inspired by the artist’s enduring connection with Venice, and Swimming (2011), created to mark the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Alongside the main exhibition, a small number of works will be displayed elsewhere within The Amelia Scott, creating subtle encounters between Hodgkin’s work, the museum collections and daily life within the building.
This is the first time work by Howard Hodgkin has been exhibited at The Amelia Scott, offering audiences across Kent a rare opportunity to experience the breadth, energy and beauty of his printmaking practice.
The exhibition is accompanied by a programme of school visits, tours, workshops and public events.
Helena Copsey, Arts Development Manager said: “At The Amelia Scott, we are passionate about bringing outstanding art and culture to our audiences, and we are thrilled to welcome Howard Hodgkin: In a Public Garden to Tunbridge Wells. Hodgkin’s work is vibrant, expressive and deeply personal, and this exhibition offers visitors the opportunity to engage with his unique artistic vision. We look forward to welcoming both existing admirers of his work and those discovering it for the first time.”
Howard Hodgkin: In a Public Garden, a Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery Touring Exhibition. Howard Hodgkin, Palm and Window, 1990-1991 (detail) – © 2026 The Estate of Howard Hodgkin. All rights reserved, DACS
About Howard Hodgkin
Sir Howard Hodgkin was one of Britain’s most important painters and printmakers. Born in London, he studied at Camberwell School of Art and Bath Academy of Art. Throughout his career, Hodgkin developed a distinctive visual language – his works evoke personal memories and emotional states through bold colour, sweeping gestures, and complex layering.
Although his paintings appear spontaneous, they are the product of a meticulous, often lengthy process. In printmaking, he pushed the boundaries of traditional techniques, combining etching, aquatint, and carborundum with hand-painting to produce richly textured, resonant works.
Hodgkin’s art has been the subject of major international exhibitions, including retrospectives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Tate Britain; and the Reina Sofía, Madrid. He was awarded the Turner Prize in 1985, represented Britain at the Venice Biennale, and was knighted in 1992.
His paintings and prints are held by most major museums including Tate, London; British Museum, London; Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge; Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh; MoMA, New York; Carnegie Institute, Pennsylvania; and Louisiana, Denmark.
Howard Hodgkin died aged 84 on 9 March 2017 in London, England.
