Dr Martin Myrone, Senior Curator, Pre-1800 British Art at Tate Britain, has been appointed Convenor of the British Art Network. The Network brings together over 700 specialists working on British art, including curators, researchers and academics, reflecting the combined strength of the UK’s public collections and curatorial expertise. As Convenor, Martin will lead and develop the activities of this community in close collaboration with the British Art Network’s co-chairs Mark Hallett (Director of Studies at the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art) and Alex Farquharson (Director of Tate Britain). He will take up the post on 1 September 2020 and be based at the Paul Mellon Centre.
Martin is an art historian and curator of international standing. His many exhibitions at Tate Britain have included Gothic Nightmares in 2006, John Martin in 2011, British Folk Art in 2014 and most recently William Blake in 2019. His published work includes the 2005 monograph Bodybuilding: Reforming Masculinities in British Art 1750–1810 and the forthcoming Making the Modern Artist: Class, Culture and Art-Educational Opportunity (to be published by the Paul Mellon Centre this autumn).
Mark Hallett said: “I am delighted to welcome Martin as the new convenor of the British Art Network. He is a brilliant curator and scholar, and a proven leader. He has been actively involved in the British Art Network throughout its history, and I know he can be relied upon to do a wonderful job in taking it forward.”
Alex Farquharson said: “Martin will be much missed at Tate Britain for his curatorial flair, his deep scholarship, his mentorship and his critical thinking. While we are sad to see him go, those talents make him the perfect choice for this new role and we very much look forward to working with him through the British Art Network.”