If you’ve not heard of ‘outsider art’ until now, let us bring you up to speed. Loosely defined as art that has been created by someone without formal training, outsider art is often out-of-touch with the traditional art world. Due to its unconventional nature, it also typically goes without recognition by the established creative sector.
But today (April 5) marks a win for the world of outsider artists, as one of the UK’s most beloved collections of outsider art has been given official protected status – meaning it’ll be preserved for generations to come.
The place in question is an art-filled flat called Ron’s Place and it occupies a Victorian villa in Merseyside, northern England. The flat was a secret for 30 years, but since artist and owner Ron Gittins passed away in 2019 and his creations became public knowledge, the place has gained a cultish following.
Not a great deal is currently known about Gittins’ art, but the influence of classical cultures is quite apparent in the massive minotaur and lion shaped fireplaces decorating the house. There’s also a Roman oven and several baroque murals decorating the walls. It’s a fascinating place – here are a few snaps of what it looks like inside.
Much to the dismay of fans, Ron’s Place was put up for auction in 2022. A group of devotees then created the ‘Saving Ron’s Place’ campaign, which is dedicated to preserving the artwork and space. The campaign is fronted by Pulp frontman and national treasure Jarvis Cocker.
And now that campaign has had a huge boost, as Ron’s Place has just been granted Grade II-listed status by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on the advice of Historic England.
‘Ron’s Place is testament to the unique artistic achievements and vision of Ron Gittins over four decades,’ said Sarah Charlesworth of Historic England.
‘The extent to which Ron’s creations have inspired action from people in the local area to raise funds to purchase the building and secure the survival of his legacy demonstrates the value of this remarkable project and why it has earned its place on the National Heritage List for England.’
About the listing, Jarvis Cocker said: ‘A small number of people on this planet have known for a while that Ron’s Place is a very special place – but from now on it is official: Ron’s Place has been given listed status!’ We’ll cheers to that.
Ron’s Place is located at 8 Silverdale Road in Birkenhead, Merseyside, but it isn’t currently open to the public. It’s hoped that small guided tours of the place will start up in the near future. You can find out more about Ron’s Place on the campaign website here.
Did you see that Rough Trade will open its biggest UK store this month – and it’s not in London?
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