AN exhibition is celebrating 40 years of a Colchester gallery.
My Generation, on display at Chappel Galleries from September 19 until October 18, features 88 artworks by 36 artists who have exhibited at the gallery since it first opened its doors in 1986.
The show is curated by Władysław Mirecki and celebrates his 70th birthday.
It includes artists born within six years of his birth date, each of whom has previously held a solo show at the gallery.
Władysław said: "There are many reasons why the gallery thrives, one being the artists who show with us.
"This celebrates my 70th during the gallery’s 40th year."
Chappel Galleries was founded by Władysław's wife Edna Mirecki on May 16, 1986, using savings earned during time spent working in Holland and Belgium.
Władysław said: "That year the River Amstel froze while I was freezing up a signal pole in time for the first steam day of the season at the East Anglian Railway Museum.
"Edna and I met when I became a lodger and immediately got involved with the business, and her."
The first solo exhibition at the gallery was by Vasant Chinchwadkar, born in 1934, who invited friend Shanti Panchal, born in 1951, who is featured in the current show.
Angela Thwaites, born in 1960, was the subject of the gallery’s second solo exhibition.
After reconnecting with her in 2025, she was immediately offered another solo show.
Some of the featured artists were given their first opportunity to exhibit in a commercial gallery at Chappel Galleries, while others have gone on to secure sole agency representation on Cork Street or have retreated into quieter, more private practices.
Władysław said: "What really pleases me is not one artist refused to contribute despite what might seem like shoddy negligence.
"In our defence it would not have been possible to offer each and every one of them a repeat showing."
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He also reflected on the gallery’s ethos, saying: "We only rarely showed deceased artists work as we did not want to become dealers and preferred to be a living, breathing venue with walking, taking artists.
"And not having gone to art school myself, talking to fellow practitioners and handling their work became my art education."
Chappel Galleries is open Wednesday to Sunday, from 10am to 5pm, or by appointment.
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