Top 3 Artworks in Sheffield chosen for Our Favourite Places

" ‘I am to paint several portraits in the country and three ugly women at Sheffield, dingy hole’. 

 John Singer Sargent describing his 'The Misses Vickers', 1884

"Ironically, it turned out to be one of his best and one of Sheffield’s most popular paintings: a modern depiction of three modern, pretty Sheffield women – a cinematic, tense, and ‘chiaroscuro’ (both light and melancholic) masterpiece..."

I was eager to write this feature piece but in practice it proved very tricky. My final shortlist of 'Top 3 Artworks' in Sheffield for Our Favourite Places included two works not currently on public display, and one public sculpture under threat of relocation and worse potentially, of being sold. So it seemed right to stick with this semi-awkward shortlist since it says much about Sheffield's artistic climate.

1. ‘The Misses Vickers’ (1884), John Singer Sargent

2.‘Double Somersault’ (1976), William Pye

3. ‘Election Protest, Bolotnaya Square, Moscow, 2011′, hand embroidery on wool (2012) from the Interpersonal Spatial Arrangements series, Roanna Wells

William Pye, 'Double Somersault', 1976. Photo by Shaun Bloodworth

Sheffield is brimming with artists - it's pretty difficult to be ignorant of the fact. There's an impressive quantity and quality of work being made in studios scattered right across the city, from converted office blocks to suburbs to artist led spaces. Yet there are scarce opportunities to exhibit or participate in projects in the city since its visual arts sector is severely underfunded.

In terms of the city's extraordinary art collection, sadly there is little capacity for display. The public can encounter the collection on semi-rotated display at the Graves gallery (on the very top floor of the central library, sporting limited opening hours) and the Ruskin gallery close by, both are modest in size in contrast to the works which are waiting in the wings (tucked away in storage beneath the Graves gallery). This is said to be a preservation issue, limiting exposure to light, etc.

Ruskin donated a great deal of artworks to Sheffield for the pleasure of the city's workers. Once, Sheffield's art collections displayed for public enjoyment set a fine example to cities like Manchester. Now, Manchester offers an extensive collection on display all year round, in conjunction with contemporary art exhibitions and new commissions.

It isn't an easy problem to solve but it was a pleasure to mark out three fine examples of artworks to be cherished but not hoarded, shared and above all, discussed. Whether visible or not, it's important we're aware of them and the artists that created them here, or dedicated them to us, for our benefit.

Read the piece in full here on Our Favourite Places