Elliott Gallery is excited to announce the opening of Ian Macdonald's highly anticipated retrospective exhibition, Fixing Time, which took place on July 20th, 2024. This comprehensive exhibition is being held across two prominent venues in Sunderland: the Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens and the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art. The exhibition runs until January 4th, 2025, offering a profound look into five decades of Macdonald's remarkable career.

Canteen staff at the end of their day, 1983 *by Ian Macdonald*

Ian Macdonald, a celebrated British photographer and artist, has spent his career documenting the lives and transformations of working-class communities in Teesside and Cleveland. His work, firmly rooted in the British documentary photography tradition of the mid-1970s to 1980s, captures the socio-political shifts of that era. Macdonald’s mastery of black-and-white film and traditional print-making techniques lends his photographs a timeless and evocative quality.

Fixing Time is the first comprehensive retrospective of Macdonald's work, unveiling not only his renowned industrial and community portraits but also previously unseen pieces. The exhibition highlights his extensive series, including Heavy Industry, Smith's Dock Shipyard, and Redcar Blast Furnace, along with large-scale drawings and a series of school portraits captured over 35 years. It provides a rich collection of photographs, archival materials, publications, and videos, offering an in-depth exploration of Macdonald’s substantial contributions to British photography.

Installation shot of ‘Fixing Time’ at Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

Ian Macdonald and visitors during the preview

Visitors to the Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens will find a focus on key photographic series, while the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art delves into significant works such as The River Tees Estuary and Greatham Creek. The exhibition opened with a preview on July 19, featuring an exclusive tour with Macdonald himself, providing attendees with unique insights into his artistic journey.

Ian Macdonald's Exhibition Opens at Sunderland