MASTERS at work
Spending time in the studio of a favourite artist can be something of a pilgrimage, a chance to celebrate their genius and get closer to the source of their creativity. Doing so can help to further bring to life the paintings that were created there too, as you get to experience the same views or be close to original objects that appeared in them. A visit can prove inspiring for your own practice too, as it humanises these legendary figures.
To make it easier to discover these spaces, the Watts Gallery Trust launched the Artist’s Studio Museum Network (ASMN) in 2016. Recognising that there are hundreds of museums established in the former homes or studios of visual artists, the Trust wanted to bring these uniquely charismatic spaces to a wider public. Single-artist museums, house museums and studio museums can be found across Europe, often sited in remote locations where artists sought seclusion in which to work. The ASMN website, www.artiststudiomuseum.org, allows you to search for a destination by location, artist or medium. The launch coincided with the opening of Watts Studios at Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village, the former Surrey home of Victorian artist George Frederic Watts, one of more than 150 spaces listed on the site.
Below is a dozen of the most prominent, fascinating and comprehensive artist’s studios to visit around the world,
