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Ithell Colquhoun: The hypnotising sensuality of Water Flower at Tate St Ives

Monday, 17 February, 2025 — Discover how Arts University Plymouth’s painting, Water Flower by Ithell Colquhoun, is featured in Tate St Ives’ landmark exhibition Between Worlds. Explore Colquhoun’s Surrealist legacy, the university’s role in her reappraisal, and why students should visit this must-see exhibition in Cornwall.

Last updated February 2025

A pioneering figure in British Surrealism, Ithell Colquhoun (1906–1988) left an indelible mark on modern art, weaving together elements of the unconscious, mythology, and occultism in her work. This year, Tate St Ives presents ‘Ithell Colquhoun: Between Worlds’, the first major exhibition dedicated to her visionary practice, bringing together over 200 artworks and archival materials. Running until 5 May 2025, the exhibition offers an extraordinary opportunity to explore the evolution of an artist who defied convention. Among the exhibited works is ‘Water Flower’ (1938), a painting in the collection of Arts University Plymouth, which has been loaned to Tate St Ives as part of this landmark retrospective.<h3>A landmark exhibition at Tate St Ives</h3> The exhibition has already received widespread praise. The Guardian described Colquhoun’s work as possessing a "ravishing, hypnotising sensuality", noting her ability to create "hallucinatory forms that blend human anatomy with geological and organic elements." (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/feb/03/ithell-colquhoun-between-worlds-review-ravishing-sensuality-from-an-unsung-surrealist?utm_source=chatgpt.com">The Guardian</a>). Meanwhile, The Telegraph highlighted her "exploration of feminine power and investigation of ideas about gender identity and sexuality," as well as "the imaginative wildness of her visionary art." (<a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/art/artists/ithell-colquhoun-tate/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">The Telegraph</a>). These reviews underscore the significance of the exhibition and its relevance to contemporary discussions in art and culture.

'Water Flower' (1938) by Ithell Colquhoun

<h2>Arts University Plymouth’s role in reappraising Ithell Colquhoun’s legacy</h2> Once thought lost to history, ‘Water Flower’ was rediscovered and acquired by Arts University Plymouth in 2018, marking a turning point in the reappraisal of Colquhoun’s legacy. The painting was first displayed during Seeking the Marvellous symposium, which explored the influence of female Surrealists in Britain. Since then, the university has continued to champion Colquhoun’s work, playing a role in the renewed academic and artistic interest in her legacy. Independent scholar Dr Richard Shillitoe, a leading expert on Colquhoun, describes ‘Water Flower’ as "an early and subtle instance of Colquhoun’s lifelong interest in boundaries... painted at a pivotal moment in her development." The artwork marks a transition in her style, bridging her early naturalistic paintings with the Surrealist methods that would define her later career. For students at Arts University Plymouth, ‘Water Flower’ has been a key learning resource, normally exhibited in the university’s Library alongside works by artists such as Wilhelmina Barns-Graham. Now, thanks to this major retrospective, students, applicants, and visitors can experience the painting within the broader context of Colquhoun’s career.

Ithell Colquhoun's 'Scylla' (1938)

<h3>Visit Tate St Ives to see ‘Water Flower’ in context</h3> With its stunning coastal setting and world-class exhibitions, Tate St Ives is an essential resource for students and academics in the South West. Colquhoun’s deep connection to Cornwall—where she lived and worked for much of her life—is central to ‘Between Worlds’, which highlights how the region’s ancient landscapes and Celtic traditions shaped her artistic and spiritual explorations. If you’re a current student at Arts University Plymouth and missing ‘Water Flower’ while it’s away, this is your chance to see it in a new light, surrounded by over 200 works that reveal Colquhoun’s radical approach to Surrealism and the occult. If you’re thinking about studying at Arts University Plymouth, why not <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/visit/book-a-tour">arrange a tour</a> and then visit Tate St Ives to immerse yourself in the creative history of the South West?

Water Flower at Tate St Ives Credit Photo c Tate by Lucy Green

'Water Flower'n (1938) at Tate St Ives - Credit Photo © Tate by Lucy Green

<h2>Explore art, history, and curation at Arts University Plymouth</h2> Interested in studying the legacy of artists like Ithell Colquhoun? Our <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/ma-museum-studies">MA Museum Studies</a> programme offers a unique opportunity to engage with leading institutions, including Tate St Ives, and explore contemporary debates in curatorship, decolonisation, and cultural heritage. If you're drawn to painting, drawing, and printmaking, our <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/ba-hons-painting-drawing-printmaking">BA (Hons) Painting, Drawing & Printmaking</a> course provides the perfect foundation for developing your artistic voice in a region rich with modern and historical influences.

<h2 dir="ltr">Plan your visit</h2> ‘Ithell Colquhoun: Between Worlds’ is open at Tate St Ives until 5 May 2025. Following its run in Cornwall, the exhibition will travel to Tate Britain in London, offering another chance to experience Colquhoun’s radical vision. Tickets can be booked through the <a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-st-ives/ithell-colquhoun-between-worlds">Tate website</a>. For more information about courses at Arts University Plymouth, visit our <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/open-days">Open Days</a> page to experience life at a specialist arts university.