News and Views

Sheet of Studies with Seated Male Nude and Two Arms
Published Date
November 11, 2024

New Series of Online Talks

Hosted on the first Thursday of the month, we have been delighted to see everyone’s reaction to the first two…

Hand holding a mobile phone open to a digital guide. The page open is for Pandora by John Dickson Batten, which is the artwork in the back of the image
Published Date
October 22, 2024

Our Art Collection Has Gone International

The University Art Collection contains over 1,500 artworks produced from the 16th century to the present day. It includes internationally…

Closeup of Athena, in a blue dress with armoured top, holding a orange cloth. There are several female figures to the right.
Published Date
April 22, 2024

Art Curator’s Deep Dive: Pandora is out of her (storage) box!

Last week, the University Art Collection rehung Pandora, a large painting in tempera by John Dickson Batten. Presented to Reading’s…

Photograph looking down at people in the staircase hall
Published Date
April 18, 2024

Glow Up! St Andrew’s Staircase Hall Redevelopment Project

This March, the University of Reading’s Museums and Special Collections Service (UMASCS) team have unveiled a redeveloped display space in…

Closeup of dancers in 'Ballet at the Alhambra' by Spencer Gore
Published Date
February 2, 2024

A Break from Tradition: Meet the Artists

Written by Curator of Art Collections, Dr Hannah Lyons, this blog introduces the key themes and artists included in this…

Four globes, each painted in a different style, on black plinths.
Published Date
June 13, 2023

The World Reimagined Global Trail

A ground-breaking national art education project designed to transform how we understand the Transatlantic Trade in Enslaved Africans and its…

Drawing of a girl seated at a desk with her hands clasped under her chin
Published Date
May 3, 2023

My First Month: Collections, Colleagues … and Cake

Dr Hannah Lyons reflects on her first month as our new Curator of Art Collections. As with any new job,…

Closeup of a portrait of a woman in profile, facing directly to the left with her head tilted slightly downwards.
Published Date
January 12, 2023

Kathleen Hale: Before the illustrations of Orlando

For her placement module, 3rd Year History Student, Holly Whapshott has been researching some of our most recent acquisitions by…

Right hand with fingers extended and finger tips placed on a surface, the little finger raised. The drawing finishes at the wrist.
Published Date
November 23, 2022

Top Five Fears: The Darker Side of the Collection

This blog is an adaptation of our Museum Studies placement student, Shona Amer’s recent Twitter thread, where she delved into…