Not a Protest, but an "Educational Tool" – Art Gallery Defies Police with More Nude Displays in Window

In Welsh, The Chair Gallery was ordered by the police to remove nude paintings from its windows following complaints from several local residents. Instead, the gallery staff decided to organise a whole exhibition of nudes in protest, the BBC reports.

The owner of the gallery, Val Harris, wants to normalise nude art because she is convinced that drawing from life is ‘the lifeblood of any artist’. She considers the nude exhibition not so much a protest as an educational tool to support artists.

Nudity is often considered the standard for museums, art schools and life drawing classes, but Ms Harris said commercial galleries usually avoid it.

Back in September, a painting of a nude female cowgirl appeared in a gallery window in Gay-on-Wye, Powys. The police, responding to complaints from several local residents, ordered the gallery to remove the image. However, The Chair Gallery team not only ignored the order, but also organised an entire nude exhibition. Currently, 50 images of naked men and women by 30 artists adorn the walls of the gallery.

The author of the scandalous painting with the cowgirl, 22-year-old student Poppy Baynham, complains about people's closed-mindedness and prejudice towards young artists. She believes that if she were a famous artist, no one would criticise her painting.

Despite the indignation of some of the town's residents, Val Harris refused to remove the exhibition and instead placed a sign next to the painting, encouraging passers-by to come in and share their thoughts in the visitors' book.