Beryl Cook, a pioneering artist often dismissed as kitsch during her lifetime, is finally getting the recognition she deserves. The forthcoming exhibition at Plymouth's Box, "Pride and Joy," promises to be a game-changer in reevaluating Cook's oeuvre.
Terah Walkup, curator of the show, acknowledges that this retrospective is overdue. "This is absolutely a moment for Beryl Cook," she says, beaming with excitement as her team busily prepares the exhibition. The vibrant and colorful paintings, which often tackled taboo subjects like gender identity and working-class joy, are sure to make an impact.
One of the standout pieces featured in the show is "Bar Girls" (1972), a painting that showcases two women savoring their freedom. In a time when women were still fighting for basic equality, Cook's portrayal of these strong-willed individuals unapologetically occupying space is nothing short of revolutionary. As Walkup aptly puts it, "She's not making fun of her subjects at all – she's painting people occupying spaces unapologetically."
Cook's meticulous approach to art-making is also on display in the exhibition. From scouring local news and newspapers for inspiration to meticulously crafting each piece, her dedication to capturing the essence of her subjects is clear.
The show's organizers are capitalizing on Cook's reputation as a champion of marginalized communities. Larger-than-life sculptures of some of her characters will be popping up across Plymouth, cementing her legacy as an artist who never stopped celebrating the people she loved.
Art critics like Julian Spalding hail Cook as one of the greatest painters of our time, alongside the likes of Hogarth and Rowlandson. "She's a modern William Hogarth and Thomas Rowlandson rolled into one," he says, highlighting her unique ability to capture the human experience with both humor and pathos.
With the exhibition set to open on January 24th, 2026, at Plymouth's Box, it's clear that Cook is finally getting the recognition she deserves. As Walkup so aptly puts it, "For over 40 years, she painted our sailors, our shoppers, our pubs, our people, always with warmth, humour and genuine affection." It's high time to give Beryl Cook the accolades she has long deserved.
Terah Walkup, curator of the show, acknowledges that this retrospective is overdue. "This is absolutely a moment for Beryl Cook," she says, beaming with excitement as her team busily prepares the exhibition. The vibrant and colorful paintings, which often tackled taboo subjects like gender identity and working-class joy, are sure to make an impact.
One of the standout pieces featured in the show is "Bar Girls" (1972), a painting that showcases two women savoring their freedom. In a time when women were still fighting for basic equality, Cook's portrayal of these strong-willed individuals unapologetically occupying space is nothing short of revolutionary. As Walkup aptly puts it, "She's not making fun of her subjects at all – she's painting people occupying spaces unapologetically."
Cook's meticulous approach to art-making is also on display in the exhibition. From scouring local news and newspapers for inspiration to meticulously crafting each piece, her dedication to capturing the essence of her subjects is clear.
The show's organizers are capitalizing on Cook's reputation as a champion of marginalized communities. Larger-than-life sculptures of some of her characters will be popping up across Plymouth, cementing her legacy as an artist who never stopped celebrating the people she loved.
Art critics like Julian Spalding hail Cook as one of the greatest painters of our time, alongside the likes of Hogarth and Rowlandson. "She's a modern William Hogarth and Thomas Rowlandson rolled into one," he says, highlighting her unique ability to capture the human experience with both humor and pathos.
With the exhibition set to open on January 24th, 2026, at Plymouth's Box, it's clear that Cook is finally getting the recognition she deserves. As Walkup so aptly puts it, "For over 40 years, she painted our sailors, our shoppers, our pubs, our people, always with warmth, humour and genuine affection." It's high time to give Beryl Cook the accolades she has long deserved.
I mean, it's about time we see Beryl Cook getting the recognition she deserves. Her art is not just about being fun and colorful (although, let's be real, those paintings are EVERYTHING 
), but also about giving voice to people who were often marginalized or ignored during her lifetime. The fact that Terah Walkup is calling it a "moment for Beryl Cook" is so true - this show is not just about showcasing her art, but also about celebrating the power of female friendship and community. And can we talk about how amazing it is that larger-than-life sculptures of some of her characters are going to pop up across Plymouth? 
It's like she's still here with us, spreading love and joy wherever she goes! The fact that art critics like Julian Spalding are calling her one of the greatest painters of our time alongside Hogarth and Rowlandson is just a testament to her incredible talent. I'm definitely going to be checking out this exhibition on January 24th - can't wait to see all the amazing works by Beryl Cook! 
her art is more than just pretty pictures, its a testament to the strength and resilience of marginalized communities. who wouldve thought that someone who made people laugh and cry with their art would be dismissed as kitsch for so long?!? but not anymore! we're finally getting to see the real BERYL COOK in all her glory, and trust me when i say its GOING TO BE AMAZING!!! 
! For so long, Beryl Cook's work was misunderstood as kitsch, but now we're finally seeing her true genius shine through 
. I mean, can you imagine what it must have been like to create art during that time period when women were still fighting for basic equality? It's mind-blowing that she wasn't just making fun of her subjects, but actually painting people occupying spaces unapologetically 
. Her meticulous approach to art-making is also super inspiring - scouring local news and newspapers for inspiration, crafting each piece with care... it's like we're getting a glimpse into her creative process 
. And let's not forget those larger-than-life sculptures popping up across Plymouth! It's amazing how the organizers are capitalizing on Cook's reputation as a champion of marginalized communities 
. I'm so excited to see this exhibition go live on January 24th, 2026 - it's high time we give Beryl Cook the accolades she deserves 
its about time we see her art in a whole new light lol i mean i've seen some of her work online and it's SO underrated tbh she was always makin art that spoke 2 marginalized communities and now we're seein the impact thats had on people 
her approach 2 art-making is literally everything, scouring local news and newspapers for inspo and craftin each piece w/ such love & care 
and julian spalding says she's a modern william hogarth lol omg thats high praise!!! 
She was ahead of her time, paintin vibrant pics of people livin their best lives, even back in 1972 
Her dedication to capturin the essence of her subjects is truly inspiring 
. i love how the show's highlighting her dedication to capturing the essence of her subjects, from scouring local news to crafting each piece meticulously. it's not just about the art itself, but also the impact she had on marginalized communities.
. I think it's awesome that they're finally giving Beryl Cook the recognition she deserves after all these years 
. Her artwork is like a breath of fresh air, tackling tough subjects and showcasing women who are unapologetically themselves 
. And let's be real, her dedication to art-making is something to be admired - scouring local news for inspiration? That's some next-level creativity 
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. And Julian Spalding hailing her as one of the greatest painters of our time alongside Hogarth and Rowlandson? Lowkey obsessed 
. I think we can all agree that it's high time Beryl Cook got the accolades she deserves 
. I mean, all this hype around Beryl Cook being a pioneer and whatnot? I think it's kinda overrated 
. Her art might be fun and colorful, but it's not like she was pushing any real boundaries or challenging the status quo 
. Just another example of how art world tries to retroactively make people cool again 
. And don't even get me started on all these large sculptures popping up around Plymouth... what a total PR stunt 
. I mean, can't we just appreciate her art for what it is without making a big deal about it? 
. And have you seen "Bar Girls" (1972)? That piece is like a time capsule – two women savoring their freedom, no apologies needed 
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. And now that she's getting the recognition she deserves, it's not just about the art itself, but about the ripple effect of how our perception of her can change the way we see ourselves and the world around us 
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