The acquisition is particularly poignant as 2026 marks 80 years of collecting for the gallery, a milestone moment in the history of one of the region’s most significant public art collections.
The painting has been revealed to the public as part of UNVEILED, a major anniversary exhibition opening on 21 February. The exhibition brings together all 257 artworks from The Rugby Collection into the gallery for the first time in decades, offering a rare opportunity to encounter the full breadth of the Collection from the post-war years to today.
The Rugby Collection holds significant examples of twentieth- and twenty first-century British art. It reflects ambition, innovation and the changing character of British creativity. New acquisitions are guided by clear principles: works should be by British artists of promise or renown, reflect the continuing development of British art, contribute to public engagement, education and cultural pride and support representation, diversity and contemporary relevance.
A Place to Rest was selected following a wide-ranging consultation process that invited views from gallery staff, Friends of the Gallery, the Youth Board and Borough Councillors. The aim was simple: to understand how shortlisted works resonated with the people they are intended to serve, and to identify which artwork best aligned with Rugby’s Collecting Policy, values and community ambitions. This conversational approach helped break down barriers that can surround contemporary art and made clear that everyone has a place in shaping the future of the Collection.
Inniss’s practice explores the idea of Black Fluidity, treating identity as lived, layered and continually unfolding. Her work offered a fresh counterpoint to the Collection’s historical emphasis on the figurative, introducing a form of emotional abstraction that is generous, sensorial and open to interpretation. Younger audiences found her work bold and relatable, while others described a sense of nostalgia and warmth that made the painting feel immediately welcoming. It was frequently described as a bridge between past and present, offering a new visual language while remaining true to the Collection’s founding principle of collecting artists of promise and renown.
Inniss commented “It is a privilege for my painting to be included in the Rugby Collection, my first work entering a public collection in the UK, and to be alongside so many artists who have influenced me and those I have only just discovered from recent visits to the gallery.”
Katie Boyce, Senior Exhibitions Officer at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, said: “This acquisition captures exactly what we hope The Rugby Collection can be. As we mark 80 years of collecting, we wanted this moment to feel inclusive and forward-looking. Inviting people to share their views on the shortlisted works was vital, and the connection visitors felt with Hettie’s painting was immediate. It speaks to memory, belonging and change in a way that feels very relevant today. We’re proud to see it join the Collection at such a significant milestone.”
Cllr Maggie O’Rourke, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for Partnerships and Wellbeing, said: “This is a very special moment for Rugby. For 80 years, The Rugby Collection has grown, and Hettie Inniss’s A Place to Rest feels like a powerful and fitting addition at this milestone.
"It brings a contemporary voice into the Collection while honouring its founding principles, and it shows our continued commitment to representation, creativity and public engagement.”
Cllr Neil Sandison, Rugby Borough Council Liberal Democrat group spokesperson for Partnerships and Wellbeing, said: “I was pleased to view this wonderful new acquisition as part of the UNVEILED exhibition, and urge all residents to take the time to visit.”
A Place to Rest is the first painting in a new series shown in Inniss’s 2025 exhibition The Waiting Room at GRIMM, Amsterdam, who have represented her since 2023 and exhibited her across the UK, Europe and the US. At its heart, the work is about memory - how places stay with us, and how they can change over time, especially when we experience loss.
The painting shows a set of double doors opening into a quiet, dimly lit kitchen, with light streaming in and softening the edges of the room. As you look closer, another scene begins to appear: a wooded landscape where trees and leaves seem to drift through the interior space, blurring the line between indoors and outdoors. The image shifts as you spend time with it, inviting viewers to bring their own memories and associations to the scene.
Inniss has described the work as drawing on a memory of walking through Formby Pine Woods, triggered by the feeling of warmth from sunlight through a window. Over time, that memory became tied to feelings of change and loss. Rather than focusing on sadness, the painting offers a sense of calm, reflection and renewal - a place to pause, breathe and let your own thoughts unfold.
UNVEILED opened on 21 February and runs at Rugby Art Gallery & Museum until 6 June, bringing together all 257 works from The Rugby Collection to mark 80 years of collecting.
Image Courtesy of the Artist and GRIMM, Amsterdam | New York | London.