The diverse group of contemporary works of art which made up the collection was amassed at Tom Bendhem’s London home since the late 1960s. Not only did it reflect the collector’s passion for painting, drawing, sculpture and photography but it also records lasting friendships forged between the artists and benefactor throughout three decades.
Tom Bendhem bought repeatedly from artists he loved and admired, and many of the works bear personal inscriptions from the artists. A number of significant artists have given the Contemporary Art Society more recent works in memory of Tom, and in memory of the support he gave them at earlier and crucial stages of their careers. The Contemporary Art Society touring exhibition and its catalogue paid tribute to Tom Bendhem as a collector of contemporary art.
He bought early works from artists including Peter Sedgley and David Mach, sometimes the first piece the artist had sold. His house was a treasure trove that also reflected an artist’s eye, for Tom Bendhem was a painter after his retirement from business. He trained as an associate student at the Slade School, benefiting from the advice and tuition of artists who were also his friends, and was actively involved in selecting works for the Contemporary Art Society for presentation to Member Museums and galleries. Tom Bendhem was also the first person to give financial support to ARTfutures.
Tom Bendhem: Collector celebrated Tom’s generosity, bringing the work of the Contemporary Art Society to a wider audience, but also underlined the vital importance of private collectors, both to artists and to public collections.
The collection included the following artists: Edward Allington, Frank Auerbach, Georg Baselitz, Zadok Ben-David, Tom Bendhem, Derek Boshier, David Buckland, Stephen Buckley, Michael Canney , John Carter , Judith Cowan, Dennis Creffield, Eugène Dodeigne, Andy Frost, John Gibbons, Michael Ginsborg, Andy Goldsworthy, David Hall, Nigel Hall RA, Josef Herman OBE, RA, Paul Huxley RA, Dave King, Phillip King CBE, RA, John Hilliard, Langlands & Bell, David Mach RA, Brian McCann, Bruce McLean, Keith Milow, Martin Naylor, Paul Neagu, Steven Newell, Victor Newsome, Hughie O’Donoghue, Sally O’Sullivan, Mimmo Paladino, Harvey Quaytman, Paul Richards, Bridget Riley CH, OBE, Mario Rossi, Thomas Scheibitz, Peter Sedgley, Lee Tribe, William Tucker RA, John Walker, David Ward, Bill Woodrow RA , Manijeh Yadegar
Catalogue:
A catalogue is also available to purchase. Tom Bendhem: Collector features colour plates by Zadok Ben-David, Michael Canney, Andy Frost, Andy Goldsworthy,David Mach RA, Sally O’Sullivan, Bridget Riley CH, DBE, Peter Sedgley and Bill Woodrow RA. Introduction by Gill Hedley, essay by exhibition curator Ann Elliott. Photography by Nicholas Sinclair.
Tom Bendhem: Collector
Paperback, perfect bound, 72 pages
10 full-colour tip-ins, 70 black & white
ISBN: 0-9517550-2-1
Dimensions: 165 x 235mm
Edited by Ann Elliott
Design by Value And Service
Price: £11.99 plus postage and packing
Postage and Packing: £1.50 (UK), £2.50 (Europe), £3.50 (Rest of World)
Free postage and packing to Contemporary Art Society members. To order the catalogue email info@contemporaryartsociety.org or call +44 (0)20 7831 1243.