MK Gallery in Milton Keynes will present Euan Uglow: An Arc from the Eye, the first major UK exhibition in over twenty years dedicated to one of the most significant British figurative artists, on show from 14 February to 31 May 2026.
Curated by Catherine Lampert, this landmark exhibition brings together over 70 of Euan Uglow’s paintings and drawings from public and private collections, ranging from his iconic large-scale nudes, studio-based still lifes, to landscape works from his summers in Europe, shown alongside a series of works by artists who have influenced him including Paul Cezanne and Alberto Giacometti, and his tutors William Coldstream, Victor Pasmore, and Claude Rogers.
Euan Uglow (1932-2000) is best known for his meticulous method of painting from life. Often taking many months or even years to complete one of his nudes or still life paintings, Uglow’s exacting process of repeated, careful measurements and a wholly devised set-up resulted in a very limited body of work, marking this exhibition a rare occasion.
An Arc from the Eye will chart Uglow’s engagement with art history from the Italian Renaissance to the 19th century, showcasing his landscapes from weeks spent in France, Italy, Morocco, Turkey and Cyprus, alongside the artist’s most notable nudes and still lifes.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue, generously funded by the Jerwood Foundation. The catalogue comprises newly commissioned writing by the show’s curator Catherine Lampert and Dr Kate Aspinall, as well as contributions from artists John Stezaker, Ellen Altfest and Robert Dukes.
Euan Uglow: An Arc from the Eye is the latest in a series of major monographic exhibitions at MK Gallery, which aim at renewing critical attention to important artists. In 2024, Vanessa Bell: A World of Form and Colour saw the largest ever exhibition of the Bloomsbury artist’s works, ranging from her paintings and drawings to her designs for furniture, book covers, ceramics, and more. Previous significant retrospectives include Larry Achiampong (2022-3), Laura Knight (2021-2), and George Stubbs (2020). MK Gallery will continue to present two monographic exhibitions throughout 2026, with further details to be announced.
Euan Uglow: An Arc from the Eye
14 February – 31 May 2026
MK Gallery, 900 Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes MK9 3QA
Tuesday – Sunday 10am – 5pm. Closed Mondays