What is there to see?
A prolific artist, L S Lowry is forever associated with Manchester and Salford, the place of his birth and the inspiration for his early work.
Any visitor to Manchester interested in his work should visit The Lowry – a museum and theatre venue on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal at Salford Quays and Media City. It houses the world’s largest collection of his works – over 100 pieces.
Getting to The Lowry
Getting there is easy by tram. The nearest stop is Media City, but if you are on the other branch, the Imperial War Museum stop is just over the river.
The Lodging House 1921
Early life
Laurence Stephen Lowry was born in 1887 and lived for much of his life in Pendlebury, a suburb of Salford. He had a difficult relationship with his mother, who he always tried to please. He was tall and shy and did not fare well at school. Lowry trained professionally, starting his art studies at evening school (for 10 years) and then at Salford College of Art (for another 10 years) both while he was a rent collector during the day, a job he kept until he retired in 1952.
Mill Scene 1953
Very little early success
When he painted, he only used five colours: white, black, Prussian blue, vermilion and yellow ochre.
He exhibited widely during the 1920s, but nothing sold. It was only during the following decades that he became moderately successful.
Bourton-on-the-Water 1947
Market Scene, 1939
Meeting Carol Ann
In 1957, when she was just 13, at her mother’s suggestion, Carol Ann Lowry (no relation) wrote to him as an aspiring artist asking for help. He arranged to meet her and from then on became “Uncle Laurie”, her mentor and tutor, taking her to see the ballet and fancy restaurants and sometimes to holidays by the sea.
Sunday Afternoon, 1957
Surprise inheritance
He died in 1976, when she was 32, leaving her his whole estate. A private person, Carol Ann only opened up about him in 2011, when a documentary film Looking for Lowry was made. She insists she knew nothing of the inheritance and that nothing improper happened in their relationship. Carol Ann died in 2020.
Later success
After he retired, LS Lowry became well-known and popular as an artist but never became fabulously rich. Christie’s sold Going to the Match (1972) for £7.8m in 2022. As with so many creatives, great fame is posthumous. I’m not sure Lowry would have liked the very modern gallery – something simpler might have appealed more – but he would be happy that he is now regarded as more than “a Sunday painter”, as some critics of the time considered him.
After your visit
Visit the indoor shopping centre next door with places to eat and drink. Sometimes a lively outdoor market is held on the Lowry and Centre terrace.
Conclusion
Well worth a visit. No entrance charge. Donations welcome. Open every day, apart from Monday (except Bank Holidays).
Disclosure:
A self-funded trip. All images by Olivia Greenway may not be used for any reason without prior written permission.
A registered charity, find more about The Lowry here.
If you’d like to read about trips to London galleries, click here.