The Hyman Collection is the private collection of Claire and James Hyman and is based in London. It is one of the most significant collections of British Photography in the world.
We began collecting in 1996 and the collection consists of several thousand artworks, from historic photographs to the latest contemporary work. Our interests range from conceptual artists working in photography to documentary photographers. We are committed to diversity and to supporting women in photography.
This website is intended as an educational resource that shares information on the artworks in the collection and facilitates loans to museums and public institutions.
By loan agreement, the Hyman Collection is administrated by the Centre for British Photography (CBP) (registered charity number 1190955) and the collection is a vital source of material for the charity’s exhibition programme. The Hyman Collection does not charge a fee when it loans works to museums. However, the CBP, as the administrator of these loans, does charge a fee to reflect registrar time. This fee provides a source of income for the charity.
LOAN REQUESTS SARAY GARCIA ALVAREZ
GENERAL INFORMATION INFO@HYMANCOLLECTION.ORG
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Claire chairing a discussion on women and activism, Photo London, 2023. -
James making the opening speech for the Communities exhibitions at the Centre for British Photography, 2023.
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TIMELINE
2015
Launch of new website, www.hymancollection.org, as an education resource, based on British photographs in the private collection of Claire and James Hyman.
2018
The Hyman Collection donates 125 photographs to the Yale Center for British Art in New Haven, USA
2018-19The Hepworth Wakefield stages Modern Nature. Photographs from the Hyman Collection
2019
The Hyman Collection donates 100 photographs to the Bodleian Library in Oxford, UK
The Hyman Collection commissions Heather Agyepong’s new series Wish You Were Here (premiered Spring 2020).
2020March. At the start of the pandemic, Claire is redeployed to help with Covid-19 patients in intensive care, while James organises one of the first Covid-19 fundraisers for the NHS, donating all the artworks to the fundraising sale.
Claire and James set up The Hyman Foundation (Charity Commission No. 1190955) to support photography in Britain.
2020-21The Arnolfini in Bristol stages two exhibitions of works from the collection:
Jo Spence. From Fairy Tales to Photo Therapy. Photographs from the Hyman Collection.
A Picture of Health. Women Photographers from the Hyman Collection
2021Oxford Photo Festival stages A Different Mirror. Women Photographers from the Hyman Collection
2022
James founds the new Centre for British Photography. Claire becomes Chair of Trustees.
2023
January. Opening of the Centre for British Photography in Jermyn Street in Central London. The first shows include The English at Home. 20th Century Photographs from the Hyman Collection curated by James.
In recognition of its new public status, The Hyman Foundation is renamed the Centre for British Photography with an expanded board of eight trustees.
Photo London at Somerset House, as part of its public programme, stages a major exhibition, curated by James entitled Writing Her Own Script. Women Photographers from the Hyman Collection.
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James Hyman Interview
Watch James Hyman discuss his career February 27, 2024James Hyman interviewed by David Glassser (Ben Uri Gallery and Museum) about his career in the art world. -
Claire Hyman chairs discussion on Women and Activism
May 16, 2023As part of the public programme for Photo London, Claire Hyman chairs a discussion with Eliza Hatch and Bindi Vora entitled Writing Her Own Script. Women and Activism. -
Art Quarterly publish major article on the Hyman Collection
June 15, 2023Meet the Collectors. James and Claire Hyman Art Quarterly, Summer 2023 DOWNLOAD: PDF -
James Hyman curates Writing her own Script. Women Photographers from the Hyman Collection
April 26, 2023As part of the 2023 Public Programme at Photo London, we are pleased to present Writing her own Script. Women Photographers from the Hyman Collection. Alongside a solo show of... -
JO SPENCE: THE ARCHIVE WHICH IS NOT ONE
A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION WITH CHARLENE HEATH, JAMES HYMAN AND PATRIZIA DI BELLO April 13, 2023Organised by Birkbeck College. A roundtable discussion with Dr. Charlene Heath, Dr. James Hyman and Professor Patrizia Di Bello, discussing multiplicity, dispersal and repetitions of the ‘dispersed’ Jo Spence Memorial... -
AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER
January 26, 2023READ HERE -
JAMES HYMAN TO TEACH A NEW COURSE ON BRITISH PHOTOGRAPHY FOR IMPERIAL COLLEGE, LONDON
November 22, 2022This course is run by Imperial College, London, in partnership with the Centre for British Photography. The course tutor is Dr. James Hyman, Founding Director, Centre for British Photography. COURSE... -
THE HYMAN COLLECTION PARTNERS WITH UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER ON NEW SERIES OF TALKS
Artists from the Hyman Collection talks series April 3, 2023Announcing a new series of talks by photgraphers in the Hyman Collection: Dialogues - Artists from The Hyman Collection is a collaboration between University of Westminster and the Hyman Collection.... -
Watch Claire Hyman's video walk-through of Jo Spence. From Fairytales to Photo Therapy. Photographs from the Hyman Collection
April 15, 2021 -
Writing her own Script. Women Photographs from the Hyman Collection
Somerset House, London 10 - 14 May 2023The exhibition charts a course from the 1930s to the present and provides an overview of photography in Britain that focuses on two strands: a humanistic documentary tradition and a... -
The English at Home. 20th Century Photographs from the Hyman Collection
Centre for British Photography 26 January - 28 May 2023The exhibition takes its title from one of the most important twentieth century photography publications, Bill Brandt’s first book, The English at Home (1935) and proposes that to understand contemporary... -
THE HYMAN COLLECTION DONATES 100 WORKS TO THE BODLEIAN LIBRARY, OXFORD
January 1, 2020The Bodleian Library Expands its Collection of Modern and Contemporary British Photographs with a gift from the London-based collectors Claire and James Hyman. OXFORD, UK. The Boldeian Library has expanded... -
THE HYMAN COLLECTION DONATES 125 WORKS TO THE YALE CENTRE FOR BRITISH ART
January 16, 2018YALE CENTER FOR BRITISH ART PRESS RELEASE PDF The Yale Center for British Art Significantly Expands Its Collection of Modern and Contemporary British Photographs with a Major Gift from the...
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