CAMBRIDGE.- A new art gallery will open at Downing College, Cambridge on 6 February 2016. Designed by world-renowned architects Caruso St John, the gallery is an innovative commission by Downing College and will be dedicated to modern and contemporary art.

The gallery will open with an exhibition of works from the private collection of Sir Alan Bowness, former Director of Tate and an alumnus of Downing College. Generation Painting 1955-65: British Art from the Collection of Sir Alan Bowness features works by an array of significant mid-20th century British artists including major works by Patrick Heron, Peter Lanyon, William Scott and Allen Jones. It is the first time these rarely seen works will be displayed together, and the exhibition draws links between the collection and his long career in the arts. Some of the paintings are already in the collection of the Fitzwilliam - others will follow.

Professor Geoffrey Grimmett, Master of Downing College, said: “The new Heong Art Gallery at Downing will join with the Fitzwilliam Museum and Kettle's Yard in contributing to the appreciation of the visual art in Cambridge. The Gallery has been made possible with generous support from our alumnus Alwyn Heong. We are deeply grateful to the members of our Advisory Board for their commitment to the project, and to our outstanding architects Caruso St John.

A number of exciting exhibitions are planned, the first of which is of key works from the personal collection of our alumnus Sir Alan Bowness. We are immensely proud that Sir Alan has participated with such enthusiasm in the inauguration of this new venture at Downing College.”

Sir Alan Bowness said: “I am honoured to be invited to show works from my collection in Downing’s beautiful new gallery – a wonderful asset for art in Cambridge. The paintings were all done in the late 50s and early 60s, which was I believe a great moment for British painting when major figures such as Scott and Lanyon came to prominence.”

Architects Caruso St John have transformed the College’s Edwardian stables into the new gallery space. This follows their 2009 redevelopment of the College’s Dining Hall, which dates from 1818. The College was founded in 1800 and its beautiful neo-classical buildings, designed by William Wilkins, are set in spacious and peaceful gardens in the centre of Cambridge.

The exhibition is curated by Rachel Rose Smith and will be accompanied by an illustrated catalogue including an essay by Sir Alan Bowness.