Allied Artists Association
Encyclopedia
The Allied Artists Association (AAA) was an art exhibiting society based in London in the early 20th century.
, art critic of The Sunday Times
newspaper, in 1908.
It purpose was to provide a platform for the exhibition and promotion of modernist art in Britain. The AAA organised exhibitions at various venues, most notably an annual Salon, modelled partly on European Secessionist exhibitions, and particularly the Société des Artistes Indépendants
in Paris. In an advertisement for the AAA in 1917, in the literary journal Art and Letters, it was announced that the aim of the AAA was to organise exhibitions without the use of a selecting jury, with each member having 'the right to show any three works he (or she) pleases and to have one work hung on the line.'
The Irish painter Paul Henry was a founder member of the AAA, and exhibited in its first exhibition at the Royal Albert Hall in 1908. Percy Wyndham Lewis, Christopher Nevinson and Harold Gilman
all exhibited at the 1912 AAA show also at the Royal Albert Hall, and it was also at this exhibition that the novelist Michael Sadleir
bought the works by the expressionist painter Wassily Kandinsky
, the first time work by this artist had been seen in Britain. Wyndham Lewis and Edward Wadsworth
both exhibited Vorticist compositions at the AAA show held at the Holland Park Ice Rink in June 1914.
In June 1917 the AAA held a show at the Grafton Galleries, London, where the art critic, poet and novelist Herbert Read
sold a number of abstract drawings.
History
The Allied Artists Association was founded by Frank RutterFrank Rutter
Francis Vane Phipson Rutter was a British art critic, curator and activist.In 1903, he became art critic for The Sunday Times, a position which he held for the rest of his life...
, art critic of The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
newspaper, in 1908.
It purpose was to provide a platform for the exhibition and promotion of modernist art in Britain. The AAA organised exhibitions at various venues, most notably an annual Salon, modelled partly on European Secessionist exhibitions, and particularly the Société des Artistes Indépendants
Société des Artistes Indépendants
—The Société des Artistes Indépendants formed in Paris in summer 1884 choosing the device "No jury nor awards" . Albert Dubois-Pillet, Odilon Redon, Georges Seurat and Paul Signac were among its founders...
in Paris. In an advertisement for the AAA in 1917, in the literary journal Art and Letters, it was announced that the aim of the AAA was to organise exhibitions without the use of a selecting jury, with each member having 'the right to show any three works he (or she) pleases and to have one work hung on the line.'
The Irish painter Paul Henry was a founder member of the AAA, and exhibited in its first exhibition at the Royal Albert Hall in 1908. Percy Wyndham Lewis, Christopher Nevinson and Harold Gilman
Harold Gilman
The British artist Harold John Wilde Gilman was a painter of interiors, portraits and landscapes, and a founder-member of the Camden Town Group.-Early life and studies:...
all exhibited at the 1912 AAA show also at the Royal Albert Hall, and it was also at this exhibition that the novelist Michael Sadleir
Michael Sadleir
Michael Sadleir was a British novelist and book collector.-Biography:He was born Michael Sadler, though upon beginning to publish novels he altered the spelling of his name to differentiate himself from his father, Michael Ernest Sadler, a historian and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds...
bought the works by the expressionist painter Wassily Kandinsky
Wassily Kandinsky
Wassily Wassilyevich Kandinsky was an influential Russian painter and art theorist. He is credited with painting the first purely-abstract works. Born in Moscow, Kandinsky spent his childhood in Odessa. He enrolled at the University of Moscow, studying law and economics...
, the first time work by this artist had been seen in Britain. Wyndham Lewis and Edward Wadsworth
Edward Wadsworth
Edward Alexander Wadsworth was an English artist, most famous for his close association with Vorticism. He painted, often in tempera, coastal views, abstracts, portraits and still-life...
both exhibited Vorticist compositions at the AAA show held at the Holland Park Ice Rink in June 1914.
In June 1917 the AAA held a show at the Grafton Galleries, London, where the art critic, poet and novelist Herbert Read
Herbert Read
Sir Herbert Edward Read, DSO, MC was an English anarchist, poet, and critic of literature and art. He was one of the earliest English writers to take notice of existentialism, and was strongly influenced by proto-existentialist thinker Max Stirner....
sold a number of abstract drawings.