Horrid Madonna painting on display in Manchester area
A controversial painting of Madonna and her former husband Guy Ritchie, worth £35,000, is hanging in Macclesfield’s newest exhibition space, the Gateway Gallery.
Collector Martin Regan, 48, of Alderley Edge, snapped up the painting by Scottish artist Mark Howson, called A Portrait Of Marriage and will display it in his Prestbury Road gallery, which opens on Friday.
He said: “This is a very exclusive gallery selling things for up to £100,000.
“When it came up for sale in May 2009 there was a lot of interest in it because Madonna collects Howson’s work and everyone thought she might buy it, but she didn’t, I did.”
Dad-of-four Martin added: “It polarises people, some people really like it and some don’t.
“I think it’s a powerful painting by a world-class artist.”
As well as works from Howson, LS Lowry and John Bellamy, the gallery will also exhibit work by Macclesfield artist Ben Kelly and Dean Entwistle, from Bollington.
Martin, who is a magazine publisher and has been collecting work for the show during the past two years, said: “I didn’t anticipate at all using local artists and then two came along who are rather good.
“This is a real high-class exhibition, I wouldn’t have them hanging up if I didn’t think they were both going to be significant artists.”
He added: “The Madonna painting will interest a lot of people who should come and see it and take a look around.”
Gateway Gallery, opens with a private exhibition tomorrow, January 20, and opens to the public on Friday, January 21.
Source: Manchester Evening News