At the core of the Ruth Borchard Collection is the Original Collection, one hundred self-portraits by twentieth century British and British-based artists, assembled mostly in the late 1950s and early-to-mid 1960s by writer Ruth Borchard, the works dating from between 1921 and 1971. Self-images by ninety-five men and five women, rendered in oil, gouache, watercolour, pen-and-ink and pencil, and, in one case, in sculptural relief.
In addition to the works Ruth Borchard acquired are all the painters that she unsuccessfully contacted in search of their self-portraits, details of a large proportion of whom she recorded in sketchy notes made in a little black book, a reused prewar German diary. The Original Collection has been expanded by several works by artists who appeared in Ruth's little black book including those by David Hockney and Leslie Marr.
The Early Collection consists of acquisitions made since Ruth Borchard’s death of work made between 1910 and 1989. The works are by artists who were significant to or inspired the work of those in the original collection. Important additions include a1920s charcoal self-portrait by David Bomberg and a1950s Henry Lamb work on paper.
The Next Generation Collection is formed of those works acquired from the biennial Self Portrait Prize, run by the Ruth Borchard Collection in collaboration with Piano Nobile, a London-based gallery specialising in twentieth-century British art. Through the prize the Ruth Borchard Collection seeks to continue Ruth’s vision and passion into the 21st century, making the collection a living and evolving entity. The prize is a critically acclaimed contemporary art award that offers artists from all backgrounds the opportunity to compete for £10,000 and the chance to have their work acquired by the Collection and exhibited at partner institutions. The Next Generation Collection is currently made up of 134 self-portraits by contemporary artists and includes work by Tracy Emin, Ishbel Myerscough, Celia Paul, Maggi Hambling, Tony Bevan and Chantal Joffe.
