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Join us in person or online for a free screening of The British Guide to Showing Off, a film documenting iconic artist Andrew Logan’s spectacular pageant The Alternative Miss World.

British artist and living legend Andrew Logan, loved the world over by celebrities and misfits alike, takes us under his glittering wing and inside his outrageous, anarchic and spectacular costume pageant: The Alternative Miss World. As the Show’s master of ceremonies and ringmaster, Logan is the high priest of an esteemed congregation. He describes the Show as his most important artwork; a fabulous living sculpture that spans forty years of arts and culture.

Combining observational footage, extensive archive material and exuberant animation, Jes Benstock’s fittingly outrageous documentary charts the mounting of the 2009 Show, interwoven with its history, the rise, fall and rediscovery, of both the event and the artist at its centre.

This free event accompanies the exhibition Andrew Logan: The Joy of Sculpture, which runs until 11 December 2021.

Take a glimpse into the glamorous past of the Alternative Miss World contests with a curated selection of original archival materials and never-before-seen footage, on display in the Bonington Vitrines.

Accompanying Andrew Logan’s solo exhibition The Joy of Sculpture in our main gallery, we are extremely pleased to present archive displays for the past Alternative Miss World contests in our Vitrines. A newly commissioned film by previous Bonington Gallery exhibitor and friend of Andrew, Dick Jewell, will feature alongside the displays, bringing together previously unseen footage (including rare 16mm film) of contests in 1985, 1991 and 2004.

Alternative Miss World

Modelled upon the Crufts dog show, the Alternative Miss World contest is an art and fashion event founded and hosted by Andrew Logan. Andrew acts as both host and hostess for the show, as exemplified by the main promotional image for the exhibition taken by Mick Rock. This alternative beauty pageant has been held irregularly since 1972, most recently in 2018 in its 14th incarnation. Contestants and judges over the years have included David Hockney, Ruby Wax, Leigh Bowery, Grayson Perry, and Zandra Rhodes.

Special thank you to the Special Collections department at De Montford University, Leicester for the generous loan of archive materials.

Header image credit: Alternative Miss World poster, courtesy Special Collections department at De Montford University.

Installation view. Courtesy of the artist and De Montford University. Photo: Julian Lister.
Installation view. Courtesy of the artist and De Montford University. Photo: Julian Lister.
Installation view. Courtesy of the artist and De Montford University. Photo: Julian Lister.
Installation view. Courtesy of the artist and De Montford University. Photo: Julian Lister.
Dick Jewell, Andrew Logan’s Alternative Miss World (1985, 1991 and 2004). Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Julian Lister.
Dick Jewell, Andrew Logan’s Alternative Miss World (1985, 1991 and 2004). Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Julian Lister.
Installation view. Courtesy of the artist and De Montford University. Photo: Julian Lister.
Installation view. Courtesy of the artist and De Montford University. Photo: Julian Lister.
Installation view. Courtesy of the artist and De Montford University. Photo: Julian Lister.
Installation view. Courtesy of the artist and De Montford University. Photo: Julian Lister.
Installation view. Courtesy of the artist and De Montford University. Photo: Julian Lister.
Installation view. Courtesy of the artist and De Montford University. Photo: Julian Lister.
Installation view. Courtesy of the artist and De Montford University. Photo: Julian Lister.
Installation view. Courtesy of the artist and De Montford University. Photo: Julian Lister.
Installation view. Courtesy of the artist and De Montford University. Photo: Julian Lister.
Dick Jewell, Andrew Logan’s Alternative Miss World (1985, 1991 and 2004). Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Julian Lister.
Dick Jewell, Andrew Logan’s Alternative Miss World (1985, 1991 and 2004). Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Julian Lister.
Installation view. Courtesy of the artist and De Montford University. Photo: Julian Lister.
Installation view. Courtesy of the artist and De Montford University. Photo: Julian Lister.
Installation view. Courtesy of the artist and De Montford University. Photo: Julian Lister.
Installation view. Courtesy of the artist and De Montford University. Photo: Julian Lister.
Installation view. Courtesy of the artist and De Montford University. Photo: Julian Lister.

In response to our exhibition Andrew Logan: The Joy of Sculpture, NTU Students on the Typography Optional Module created a typeface and re-imagined our exhibition booklet and invite. The students had half a day on each exercise and came up with some fantastic responses!

We are excited to share a selection of them below:

Exhibition booklet mock-up by Vania Campos
Typeface by Will O’Donnell
Typeface by Ed Shakeshaft

Use the links below to have a look at their leaflets:

Bonington Gallery is delighted to present Andrew Logan The Joy of Sculpture, a solo exhibition spanning 50 years of practice from one of Britain’s most iconic artists. Andrew – sculptor, painter, and jewellery artist – is known for challenging convention, mixing media and playing with artistic values.

The Joy of Sculpture presents a collection of Andrew Logan’s work – from large-scale sculptures, mirror portraits and jewellery, and archive displays from his infamous Alternative Miss World competitions. Including new creations and those never shown before, this exhibition brings together all areas of Logan’s practice in a single place.

Andrew’s artwork reflects his unrelenting, and infectious, passion, joy and energy. Smashed glass and found objects are transformed, becoming flamboyant, colourful and glittering objects, in all shapes and sizes.

Key works within the The Joy of Sculpture include:

Andrew’s work doesn’t offer that much to the would-be catalogue mystifier. If you start saying anything too pretentious about it, it sort of laughs in your face. It’s hard to place, because it doesn’t really quite belong anywhere, guilelessly straddling a number of heavily contested boundaries – such as those between art and craft, between art and decoration, between pop and fine, between the profane and sacred.

Brian Eno

Our Bonington Vitrines will house archive material from Andrew’s celebrated Alternative Miss World competition. The infamous pageant, inspired by the Crufts dog show, was started in 1972 and hosted by Logan – who acts as both host and hostess. Contestants and judges over the years have included David Hockney, Ruby Wax, Leigh Bowery, Grayson Perry, and Zandra Rhodes. 

Accompanying The Joy of Sculpture will be a programme of public events, as well as a commissioned essay by Lynda Morris, curator, writer and Andrew’s acquaintance.

Header image credit: Andrew Logan as Host and Hostess for Alternative Miss World 1973 by Mick Rock.

Installation view. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Julian Lister.
Installation view. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Julian Lister.
Arum Lily Record Player, 1970. Courtesy of the artist and Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture. Photo: Julian Lister.
Duggie, 2021. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Julian Lister.
Installation view. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Julian Lister.
Brunel Penhaul, 2008. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Julian Lister.
Installation view. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Julian Lister.
Various editorial photoshoots. Photo: Julian Lister.
Various jewellery. Courtesy of the artist and lenders. Photo: Julian Lister.
Watercolours. Courtesy of the artist and Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture. Photo: Julian Lister.
Hommage to the New Wave, 1977. Courtesy of the artist and the Arts Council Collection. Photo: Julian Lister.
Four Flowers of the Apocalypse, 2008 (detail). Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Julian Lister.
Goldfield, 1976/2017. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Julian Lister.
Goldfield, 1976/2017 (detail). Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Julian Lister.
Goldfield, 1976/2017 (detail). Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Julian Lister.
Andrew Logan’s outfit, 1967. Courtesy of the artist and Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture. Photo: Julian Lister.
Installation view. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Julian Lister.
Installation view. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Julian Lister.
Arum Lily Record Player, 1970. Courtesy of the artist and Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture. Photo: Julian Lister.
Duggie, 2021. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Julian Lister.
Installation view. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Julian Lister.
Brunel Penhaul, 2008. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Julian Lister.
Installation view. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Julian Lister.
Various editorial photoshoots. Photo: Julian Lister.
Various jewellery. Courtesy of the artist and lenders. Photo: Julian Lister.
Watercolours. Courtesy of the artist and Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture. Photo: Julian Lister.
Hommage to the New Wave, 1977. Courtesy of the artist and the Arts Council Collection. Photo: Julian Lister.
Four Flowers of the Apocalypse, 2008 (detail). Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Julian Lister.
Goldfield, 1976/2017. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Julian Lister.
Goldfield, 1976/2017 (detail). Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Julian Lister.
Goldfield, 1976/2017 (detail). Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Julian Lister.
Andrew Logan’s outfit, 1967. Courtesy of the artist and Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture. Photo: Julian Lister.
Exhibition Resources:

Curated by Joshua Lockwood-Moran
With support from Tom Godfrey and Brianna Frazier Selph

Joshua would like to extend his special thanks to Andrew Logan, the team at Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture and to Thomas Lockwood-Moran. Other artists featured within the exhibition are: Dick Jewell, Brian Shuel and Jane Thorburn.

Technicians: Harry Freestone, Sam Famula, Sorcha Mayes, Mark Flanagan, Jennifer Savage and Ryan Young.

Lending Institutions: Arts Council Collection, National Portrait Gallery, Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture, De Montfort University Special Collections.

Private Lenders: Piers Atkinson, Marc Balet, Amanda Barrie, Lila Bryan, Michael Davis, Brita Forsstrom, Angelika Grohmann, Maggi Hambling, Lynn Hanke, Emma Kane, Rebecca Hoffberger, Jane Linklater, Daniel Lismore, Richard & Polly Logan, Diane & Peter Logan, Philipa & James Logan, Kate Malone, Anthea Norman-Taylor, Baroness Patricia Rawlings, Zandra Rhodes, Lynn Seymour, Juliana Sissons, Keir Malam & Paddy Whitaker, Janet Slee and those who wish not to be named.

From our Blog

Andrew Logan: The Joy of Sculpture 
Students respond to Andrew Logan: The Joy of Sculpture

Andrew Logan dressed in half a tuxedo and half a dress.

We are very excited about launching our 2021/22 season with a solo exhibition spanning 50 years of work by Andrew Logan, one of Britain’s most iconic artists.

We’ll be opening our doors for a preview of this incredible exhibition on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 September 2021, 12 – 6 pm daily. Everyone is welcome – just reserve your free place online and drop in:

Reserve your free place for The Joy of Sculpture preview on Saturday 25 September

Reserve your free place for The Joy of Sculpture preview on Sunday 26 September