5 April – 15 June 2025

Anita Besson was born in Switzerland and settled in London in 1956. She opened Galerie Besson in London in 1988, having worked for London fine art galleries since 1961. As the first Bond Street gallery to show ceramics as fine art, Galerie Besson was highly influential. It closed in 2011, nearly 250 exhibitions later.

Anita Besson exhibited only work that she loved. Alongside her favourites, Lucie Rie and Hans Coper, she took pleasure in showing unfamiliar artists and artists from around the world, from Europe and Asia, Australia and the USA. Many artists became close friends, and their works form the bulk of her impressive personal collection.

Both Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales and the Derek Williams Trust acquired important ceramics from Galerie Besson. Anita Besson was excited by the ambitious development of the ceramics collection in Cardiff and decided to bequeath her own collection to the Derek Williams Trust so that it could be shown to the public.

The ceramics in this exhibition were bequeathed by Anita Besson to the Derek Williams Trust, on loan to Amgueddfa Cymru.

..

5 Ebrill – 15 Mehefin 2025

Ganwyd Anita Besson yn y Swistir ac ymgartrefodd ym Llundain yn 1956. Agorodd Galerie Besson ym Llundain yn 1988, wedi gweithio i orielau celf gain ym Llundain ers 1961. Tyfodd Galerie Besson yn oriel dylanwadol iawn, y gyntaf yn Bond Street i ddangos cerameg fel celfyddyd gain. Caeodd yr oriel ym 2011, wedi cynnal bron i 250 o arddangosfeydd.

Dim ond gwaith yr oedd hi’n ei garu gâi le yn arddangosfeydd Anita Besson. Ochr yn ochr â’I ffefrynnau, Lucie Rie a Hans Coper, roedd yn bleser ganddi ddangos gwaith artistiaid anghyfarwydd ac o bedwar ban byd, o Ewrop ac Asia, Awstralia a’r Unol Daleithiau. Daeth llawer o artistiaid yn ffrindiau agos, a’u gweithiau nhw yw’r rhan fwyaf o’I chasgliad personol sylweddol.

Prynodd Amgueddfa Cymru ac Ymddiriedolaeth Derek Williams ill dwy weithiau cerameg pwysig oddi wrth Galerie Besson. Roedd Anita Besson wedi’i chynhyrfu gan ddatblygiad uchelgeisiol y casgliad cerameg yng Nghaerdydd, a phenderfynodd adael ei chasgliad ei hun i Ymddiriedolaeth Derek Williams yn gymynrodd fel y gellid ei ddangos i’r cyhoedd.

Cymynroddwyd y cerameg yn yr arddangosfa hon gan Anita Besson i Ymddiriedolaeth Derek Williams, ar fenthyg i Amgueddfa Cymru.

….

....Accompanying Talk..Sgwrs Cyfeiliol....