Alongside Matthew Lanyon’s artwork which can be explored here, the artist produced a significant archive comprising material relating to his life and art.

The Archive refers to a range of materials including sketch books, drafts and diagrams, experiments in a variety of media, photography and audio-visual material, correspondence, collected objects like typewriters, rocks, detritus and medicine bottles, art materials and tools, a library of specialist books including rare editions, fragments of language or overheard ‘truisms’, poetry and autobiographical writing, accounts and exhibition records.

Since 2016, Judith Lanyon has undertaken substantial work in organising and cataloguing material, including over 1200 items recorded on a digital database. With the support of archive residents and specialists in the field of artists’ archives, Judith continues to facilitate engagement with this rich and complex archive, spanning themes of politics and art world resistance, environmental issues, pre-history, mythology, astrology, grief and more.

The Archive provides a special insight into the nuances of Matthew’s work and the philosophies underpinning his practice as well as the intricacies of his artistic processes. It presents avenues for reframing how the artists’ legacy can be understood and is an important and exciting resource for the region.

As work continues towards creating a permanent record of Matthew Lanyon’s work and thinking for wider public access in Penzance and beyond, the Archive remains an accessible hub to those who would like to register their interest. Proposals for research by academics, curators, artists or practitioners from other fields are welcomed, and further opportunities to participate in archive residencies will be announced in 2025.

See examples below of images from the Archive and the latest material to be processed.

Judith Lanyon sorting non paper based materials in the archive.

Judith Lanyon sorting non paper based materials in the archive.

Tools and paint kept from Matthew's oil tunnel studio.

Tools and paint kept from Matthew's oil tunnel studio.

Ellie Porter exploring the Archive on her first visit in 2024.

Ellie Porter exploring the Archive on her first visit in 2024.

First Student Residency; cataloguing a mixed box of unsorted archive material, Zelda Cahill-Patten and Stella Wren Douglass, are post MA students from Courtauld's, History of Art course and completed two weeks intensive and enjoyable work in October

First Student Residency; cataloguing a mixed box of unsorted archive material, Zelda Cahill-Patten and Stella Wren Douglass, are post MA students from Courtauld's, History of Art course and completed two weeks intensive and enjoyable work in October 2024.

Studio wall boards which Matthew covered in graffiti and scraps of paper are conserved in the archive.

Studio wall boards which Matthew covered in graffiti and scraps of paper are conserved in the archive.

Purpose made rubber stamps (foreground) feature in the archive and were widely used in various book projects and on some paintings; in the background are homeopathic bottles used in his mixed media Alphabet (bottles) series the first of which was 'On

Purpose made rubber stamps (foreground) feature in the archive and were widely used in various book projects and on some paintings; in the background are homeopathic bottles used in his mixed media Alphabet (bottles) series the first of which was 'Only Joy'.

From the studio, Birds, one of his picture hook 3D works, in conversation.

From the studio, Birds, one of his picture hook 3D works, in conversation.

Little Park Owles, 1989, an early mixed media piece depicting the distinctive home Matthew grew up in, in St Ives was uncovered from deep in the joinery workshop, after Matthew's death.

Little Park Owles, 1989, an early mixed media piece depicting the distinctive home Matthew grew up in, in St Ives was uncovered from deep in the joinery workshop, after Matthew's death.

A wire work piece photographed as found high in the joinery workshop in 2017.

A wire work piece photographed as found high in the joinery workshop in 2017.

Sampada Ladke and Amy May Brand, our second student residency intake in 2024, focussed on Matthew's art photos and collages, the sculpture room and a fascinating timeline of materials use across Matthew's three decades as a full time artist.

Sampada Ladke and Amy May Brand, our second student residency intake in 2024, focussed on Matthew's art photos and collages, the sculpture room and a fascinating timeline of materials use across Matthew's three decades as a full time artist.

Amy May Brand completed a BA in Art History at Courtauld and Sampada Ladke completed a Curation MA at Exeter University before being selected for the ML Archive residency.

Amy May Brand completed a BA in Art History at Courtauld and Sampada Ladke completed a Curation MA at Exeter University before being selected for the ML Archive residency.