Across the campus you will find a rich and varied selection of artworks from the University of Southampton Art Collection (USAC) on display. The USAC was founded in the 1960s and has since developed through commission, purchase, loan and gift. It is a growing collection with a wonderfully diverse portfolio of over 450 works, largely from the 20th century, which covers paintings, prints, drawings, photographs, sculptures, ceramics and textiles.
The collection showcases a wide range of artistic styles and genres, featuring renowned artists such as Barbara Hepworth, Tracey Emin, Duncan Grant, Lucy Jones, Eduardo Paolozzi, Sunil Gupta, Gerard Hemsworth, and Conrad Shawcross.
Our Library is committed to making the USAC more accessible, displaying artworks throughout all University of Southampton campuses to enrich our shared spaces. Additionally, the Library lends pieces to external venues and is actively exploring new ways to integrate the collection into research and teaching, as well as to engage with the wider community.
How to view the collection
The majority of the collection is on display across our campuses. You can also browse some items from our collection on Art UK.
We are in the process of creating some art trails to highlight particular mediums and themes within the collection. You can use these to explore our collections online or in person.
If you have any questions about the collection, or if you would like to view a piece not on display, please email us at libenqs@soton.ac.uk
