Serving across Borders: International Tennis Art

A summer lecture by Professor Ann Sumner to consider the inspiration the game of lawn tennis has given artists in England, Europe and around the world.

Her lecture will look at the challenges for artists searching to capture the graceful movement of players on court, the fashions worn as the game developed and the contexts in which it was played. Artists responded to the game by adapting their portraiture, landscape, still life and genre painting to include tennis, becoming increasingly imaginative and innovative and Ann will discuss well known paintings by John Lavery through to the work of Hurvin Anderson and David Hockney.

Established in 1880, the Ilkley Lawn Tennis Club is a beautiful setting for this fascinating talk which will take place during the annual tennis tournament.

Tickets for the evening will include a glass of wine and strawberries and cream.

There will also be a limited number of tickets for LAF members and friends wishing to attend the tournament during the day. Please email events@leedsartfund.co.uk for further information and prices.

Professor Ann Sumner curated the successful groundbreaking exhibition 'Court on Canvas: Tennis in Art' in 2011 at the Barber Institute of Fine Art where she was Director. Since then Ann has continued her research, contributing a chapter to the Routledge 'International Handbook of Tennis' in 2019 and delivering a paper to the 2020 Tennis Heritage Conference at the All England Club. She has been vice chair of Leeds Art Fund since 2021 and is chair of the Methodist Modern Art Collection.

Leeds Art Fund is delighted that this event is generously supported by Hartleys Auctioneers, Ilkley, and the Ilkley Lawn Tennis Club.

Tennis under the Orange Trees, Cannes

John Lavery

Oil on canvas, 1929

Private Collection

The event is being held at the club during The Lexus Ilkley Trophy. Tickets to attend the tennis during the day can be purchased via the LTA website.

Date Selection [Lexus Ilkley Trophy Ground Admission] - Lawn Tennis Association (lta.org.uk)