Art History: Contemporary Approaches to Traditional Techniques

Over 5 weeks, explore how contemporary artists are re-engaging with time-honoured techniques such as stained glass, tempera and wood engraving to create unique and enduring works.

Recent decades have seen a renewed interest in traditional artistic media and techniques. Skilled and exacting methods such as mosaics, painting with tempera, stained glass and wood engraving have captured the attention of contemporary artists seeking to create objects with a historical resonance. Whether these artists embrace the solemnity and monumentality of traditional forms or use these techniques in order to nuance and critique, the works they make exhibit mastery and a desire to explore the opportunities and limitations which traditional materials present. The teaching sessions will include details of the different techniques and contemporary examples elegant, humorous, vibrant, and. thought-provoking works. There will be ample opportunity for looking together, analysing and interrogating the enduring appeal of these time-honoured techniques. 

This is a seminar-style course which combines information sharing, group discussion and debate and the close study of individual works and related historical sources and academic writings, led by three experienced tutors: Miriam Gill, David Antill and Ellie Pridgeon. 

The course will run on Wednesday afternoons, 1pm – 3pm for five weeks, starting on Wednesday 26 February and ending on 19 March 2025.

Participants must be aged 18+.

Please ensure that you agree to our updated Terms & Conditions before booking as courses/workshops are non-refundable in some circumstances.

We aim to make all our sessions as accessible as possible and carers/PAs are very welcome – just remember to book their free place when you book your session. If you'd like to talk to us in advance of booking or attending your sessions to discuss your access needs, our Box Office team is here to help! Email arts-centre@le.ac.uk, pop in or call 0116 252 2455, open 7 days a week.

We have four blue badge parking spaces outside Attenborough Arts Centre, plus double yellow line roadside parking very close to the building for blue badge holders for up to three hours if our parking spaces are occupied.

Free parking for all customers is available after 5pm on weekdays and all day at weekends in the University of Leicester car park next door to Attenborough Arts Centre on Lancaster Road. The closest public car park for parking at all other times is Victoria Park, 5-10 minutes walk from us.