Wales' First Contemporary Art Museum Still Seeking Permanent Cardiff Home
The Artistic Museum of Contemporary Art (AMOCA) is preparing to host its second pop-up exhibition in Cardiff next week, as the organisation continues its ongoing quest to establish a permanent home dedicated to showcasing Welsh contemporary artists on the global stage.
Second Pop-Up Exhibition Returns to Temple of Peace
Following the successful inaugural exhibition held last summer in the Marble Hall at the Temple of Peace, which featured works from thirty-eight African and African diaspora artists, AMOCA is returning to the same prestigious venue for its second exhibition. The exhibition will officially open with a private viewing event before running publicly from April 15th to April 18th.
Titled AMOCA Dialogues Wales: New Voices from the Museum Collection, this exhibition will present more than forty female and non-binary international artists working across diverse mediums including painting, sculpture, and material experimentation. Notable featured artists include Lynda Benglis, Ewa Juszkiewicz, Elizabeth Peyton, Issy Wood, and the acclaimed Wales-based painter Shani Rhys James.
Spotlight on Welsh Artist Shani Rhys James
Shani Rhys James, born in Melbourne in 1953 to an Australian mother and Welsh father, moved to the United Kingdom as a child. She studied at Loughborough and Saint Martin's in London before eventually settling in rural Powys with her family. Over four decades, she has established herself as one of Wales' foremost painters, receiving major accolades such as the Gold Medal for Fine Art at the National Eisteddfod, the Jerwood Painting Prize, and an MBE in 2006. Her work is held in prestigious collections, including the National Museum Cardiff.
Reflecting on her identity and work, Rhys James stated, "I'm who I am, and I'm half Welsh... I chose my Welsh identity, really, by staying in Wales. I paint about mostly quite personal things... It's a lot to do with feeling... the force of life."
While generous about Wales, she remains unsentimental regarding the local art scene. She describes it as lively and exploratory, often more interesting than outsiders realise, but highlights a critical structural issue: visibility. "We don't have enough press. We don't have enough critical debate," she added bluntly. "We are a bit of a secret, quite frankly."
AMOCA's Mission and Leadership
AMOCA was co-founded by Swedish-born philanthropist and entrepreneur Anders Hedlund, who commented on Rhys James's significance: "Shani Rhys James represents an essential part of that story - an artist whose work carries both local depth and universal resonance."
The founding team comprises a collective of art lovers, curators, and professionals passionate about broadening access to contemporary art. Their privately funded collection includes over one thousand museum-grade works by world-class contemporary artists.
Anders Hedlund is best known for establishing the global stationery-to-Christmas-cracker venture IG Design Group, which maintains its UK manufacturing base in Ystrad Mynach. He also founded the Cardiff-based charitable school Tomorrow's Generation, which provides intensive literacy support for children with dyslexia, a condition he himself has been diagnosed with.
Ongoing Search for a Permanent Museum Location
AMOCA is currently evaluating several property locations in Cardiff for a permanent home to showcase contemporary Welsh artists. Discussions are ongoing with Cardiff Council, the Welsh Government, Cardiff University, and private property landlords.
Mr Hedlund elaborated on the urgent need for such an institution: "Having worked on and built up a collection of art over the past thirty years, it is clear that Wales has some amazing contemporary artists, but sadly many don't have the exposure that artists in the other home nations have. Auction houses in London often feature Scottish or Irish collections, but I have never seen a Welsh collection."
"That is why we are desperate to find a permanent home to create the first dedicated museum of contemporary art in Wales, and one that would attract visitors from around the world," he continued. "The museum would promote the work of Welsh painters and artists, while also providing a platform to support young and up-and-coming artists. It would also include works from international artists."
He emphasised that the project is about securing the right building and expressed confidence that a suitable location, whether in the city centre or elsewhere in Cardiff, will be secured shortly. The organisation is open to either acquiring or renting a building to achieve its goal of placing Welsh contemporary art firmly on the world stage.
