Welcome
The Fry Public Art Gallery was opened in 1987 and houses an impressive number of paintings, prints, illustrations, wallpapers and decorative designs by artists of the 20th century and the present day who have local connections and have made a significant contribution to their field. There is an emphasis on those who for a variety of reasons settled in Great Bardfield between the early thirties of the last century and the death in 1983 of John Aldridge RA who had lived in the village for fifty years.
The Gallery is run by volunteers, both invigilators when it is open to the public and other helpers throughout the year. Please contact us if you would like to become more involved.
The Fry Art Gallery is now closed for the winter.
We re-open on Sunday 6th April 2025, with exhibitions celebrating our 40th anniversary.
In the mean time, we look forward to seeing you at one of our winter lectures. Johnny Hannah gives us ‘England, my England’ on Friday 10th January, and we have ‘an evening with Ella Ravilious’, to look forward to on Friday 14th February. More details and tickets are on this website under ‘News’.
Film by Thomas Völker © 2022
Online Shop
The Fry’s online shop has a range of gifts, from textiles to books.
Please click HERE for more information.
The Fry receives no regular funding. Should you wish to contribute to our running costs, please use the button below.
Become a member
If you would like to become a Fry Gallery Member you can now do so online. Please choose an option below.
Visit the Collection
Browse the Fry Gallery collection online here.
News and Events
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Work of the month
Work of the Week 64: Marianne Straub, from Bolton to Bardfield
This week’s page from Marianne Straub’s scrapbook, on show in the Fry Art Gallery, tells us more about the extent of her friendship circle. During the time that Marianne lived in Great Bardfield, in the 1950s and 1960s, she became firm friends with the local artists,...
Work of the Week 63: Marianne Straub’s designer friends
This week’s work is another gorgeous double-page spread from Marianne Straub’s scrapbook. On the left-hand page, we have a card from Misha Black, with whom Marianne had worked since the 1940s. He commissioned Marianne’s fabrics for the upholstery and curtains in the...
Work of the Week 62: More from Marianne Straub’s scrapbook
Another double page spread from Marianne's scrapbook this week, including cards from: 1: Joanna Bawden (artist), 2: Edwin Smith (photographer), 3: John Norris Wood (artist/illustrator), 4: David Gentleman (artist/illustrator), 5: Margaret and Dorothy Pilkington...
Exhibitions
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Visiting us
Opening Times
The Gallery will open in 2025 from Sunday 6th April to Sunday 26th October.
Admission is free. Step-free access is available.
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 2pm – 5pm |
| Wednesday | 2pm – 5pm |
| Thursday | 2pm – 5pm |
| Friday | 2pm – 5pm |
| Saturday | 11am – 5pm |
| Sunday and bank holidays | 2pm – 5pm |
Contact us
We would be delighted to hear from you and you can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The links are in the footer below.
Location
