HULL.- The Ferens Art Gallery in Hull has acquired a striking contemporary sculpture by Ron Mueck with support from Art Fund. It is one of the first works by the artist to be acquired by a museum in the UK, with the only other examples belonging to Tate and National Galleries Scotland.

Poke, a striking male nude, was created specifically for an exhibition at the gallery called SKIN and was displayed as part of Hull’s year as UK City of Culture in 2017. The piece will now return to Hull as part of the gallery's permanent collection.

The Australian-born artist is best known for creating hyperrealist sculptures of human figures either in enlarged or miniature forms. Focusing on the human experience from birth until death, his sculptures are formed in painstaking detail, replicating pores and minute hairs on the figure’s skin.

Rachael Browning, acting head of programmes for Art Fund, said: ‘The Ferens Art Gallery’s acquisition of Ron Mueck’s Poke is yet another sign of the ambition of this energetic organisation as they continue to celebrate being a hub for UK City of Culture and a finalist for Art Fund Museum of the Year 2018. We’re sure this sculpture will be popular with visitors from Hull and beyond for years to come.’