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Friday Lates tour and poetry readings

SJ Fowler and guests

Poet and performer SJ Fowler brings together a range of writers for an evening of readings inspired by artworks
Date
Friday, 23 May 2025
Time
7 - 7.45 pm

About

For centuries, the artforms of painting and poetry have been in dialogue, each informing the other, while artists and poets have often attempted to translate their unique essence. 

Following a series of Friday Lates events last year, poet and performer SJ Fowler returns to the Gallery to read new ekphrastic poems written in response to paintings, offering alternative interpretations of their meaning, history and standing of 16th-century Italian art in our collection.

Fowler is joined by Gallery Educator Fiona Alderton and invited guests from Writers’ Kingston, including students from Kingston University and further afield, for a tour and poetry performances around the Gallery.

Image: SJ Fowler at the National Gallery. Photo courtesy of the artist

SJ Fowler

SJ Fowler is a writer, poet and performer, whose work explores an expansive idea of poetry and literature - the textual, visual, asemic, concrete, sonic, collaborative, performative, improvised, curatorial - through 50 publications, 200 performances in over 40 countries, four large-scale event programmes, numerous commissions, collaborations and more. His work has been commissioned by the National Gallery, Tate Modern, BBC Radio 3, Somerset House, Tate Britain, London Sinfonietta, the Southbank Centre, National Centre for Writing, National Poetry Library, Science Museum and Liverpool Biennial.

Talks & conversations

Friday Lates tour and poetry readings

SJ Fowler and guests

Poet and performer SJ Fowler brings together a range of writers for an evening of readings inspired by artworks
Date
Friday, 23 May 2025
Time
7 - 7.45 pm

Free

Places are limited and available on a first come, first served basis. 

Due to new security measures, you will need to allow more time for entry. Find out more.