The New Hall Art Collection is a permanent collection of contemporary art by women artists. Paintings, prints, and sculpture are displayed throughout the Murray Edwards College, Cambridge, England. The unique architecture of the College buildings were completed in 1965 by Chamberlain, Powell and Bon and are Grade II* listed.
The Collection has come about as the result of many generous gifts and loans from artists and donors. In 1986, the College acquired Mary Kelly’s Extase (thanks to the generous support of the Eastern Arts Association and the artist herself) following her stay as artist in residence. This spurred the hope that the College might develop a permanent collection of 20th-century art by women, to inspire the female students who would live among it. In 1992, Dr Valerie Pearl (President 1981-1995) wrote to 100 of the leading women artists in Britain and received some 75 donations in return. Today the collection continues to acquire new works by contemporary women artists.
The Collection
The collection includes works by: