Sir Christopher Le Brun to be made honorary fellow

Internationally-renowned painter Sir Christopher Le Brun is to be recognised with Liverpool John Moores University’s highest honour.

Sir Christopher, widely regarded as one of the finest artists of his generation, will be conferred with an honorary fellowship at LJMU’s graduation ceremonies in March.

The honour comes as the university’s art school marks its 200th birthday in 2025.

Services to the arts

Sir Christopher made his name as a painter, sculptor and printmaker.

Knighted in 2021 for his services to the arts, he served as President of the Royal Academy of Arts in London for eight years and, since 1990, has been a trustee of major British institutions at Tate, National Gallery, Dulwich Picture Gallery, National Portrait Gallery and the Royal Drawing School.

Having trained at the Slade and Chelsea Schools of Art in London, Sir Christopher was a double prize winner at the John Moores exhibitions and his work is featured in museum collections around the world from London and New York to Sydney and Shenzhen.

In 2019 he delivered one of the university’s prestigious Roscoe lectures on the subject of The artist as public figure: how artists contribute to decision-making in the arts.

His work The Parables is housed at Liverpool Cathedral, where he will receive his fellowship – LJMU’s highest honour – next month.

I have an innate feeling and appreciation for this great port city. I’m immensely grateful to the university for granting me this, their highest honour.

Sir Christopher Le Brun

An inspiration to others

Professor Mark Power, LJMU Vice-Chancellor, said: “It is absolutely fitting that we honour the work of Sir Christoper Le Brun during our art school’s 200^th year.

“Sir Christopher is rightly regarded as one of the finest painters of his generation, and his world-renowned works inspire countless other artists, including, I’m sure, many of our talented young artists here at LJMU.

“I look forward to conferring an honorary fellowship on Sir Christopher at graduation and formally welcoming him into the LJMU family.”

Sir Christopher Le Brun said: “Liverpool has always been a lucky city for me and I associate it with happy and significant events in my professional life. Whether it is participating as a prize-winner and subsequent jury member at the John Moores Exhibitions when I was first starting out, to the opening of Tate Liverpool when I was an artist trustee, to the painting commission for the choir stalls of the Anglican Cathedral.

“I was born and brought up in Portsmouth, so I have an innate feeling and appreciation for this great port city. I’m immensely grateful to the university for granting me this, their highest honour.”