It never ceases to amaze how the wonderful Manchester Art Gallery is often invisible to the people who walk past its impressive entrance as they go about their daily grind. A large proportion of the venue is free to browse and there’s world-class art adorning the walls but, in terms of mass appeal, it doesn’t always seem to have the magnetism to pull in the average Joe.

Angels of Anarchy Manchester
The latest reason to visit the gallery is a world exclusive called Angels of Anarchy. Manchester is the only city you can see this exhibition and it’s not going to appear anywhere else after its run. It showcases the work of female surrealist painters from across the 20th Century and as they produced work that challenged the establishment it is aptly called Angels of Anarchy. Manchester Art Gallery is set to host the exhibition until January 2010, so there’s plenty of time for you to head down and check it out.

Mixed Mediums
Along with a range of iconic paintings there will be photographs, prints and sculpture on display at Angels of Anarchy. Manchester art enthusiasts are sure to recognise the international line-up of artists which includes Frida Kahlo, Lee Miller and Meret Oppenheim and there will also be work displayed from lesser known talents such as Mimi Parent, Kay Sage and Emila Medkova. The one thing that connects the work of these artists is that they produced art that provoked change in what was a traditionally male-dominated world, where men were seen as the creators and females as merely the models or muses.

Break It Down
The groundbreaking work of the female artists involved helped destroy the barriers between genders and this is good enough reason to go and see Angels of Anarchy. Manchester is a city with a powerful tradition of progress and change and you will find this in abundance at this exhibition.

Gimme Five
The exhibition is split up into five key areas: portrait/self portrait; landscape; interior; still life and fantasy. In the portrait section you will be able to see Frida Kahlo’s Diego, a painting which blurred the lines of gender and transformed the stereotype of women merely as sexual objects. Another eye-catching piece is Jane Graverol’s L’Espirit Saint which beautifully employs a rocky vista as a reference to the female body, something which allowed the artist to create a unique piece and one that stands the test of time with flying colours.

Tickets cost £6, £4(concs) for Angels of Anarchy. Manchester Art Gallery will host the event Saturday 26th September-Sunday 10th January 2010. Under 18s can take advantage of free entry. For more information and tickets, click on the link below.

Angels of Anarchy Official Site