The Kennel Club Art Gallery is proud to present its latest capsule exhibition, Minority Spaniels, a striking photographic showcase by emerging photographer, Melody Fisher.
Born into the world of dog showing, Fisher developed a deep appreciation for minority spaniel breeds within the Gundog Group and became a Young Kennel Club member, where she gained hands-on experience handling and showcasing a variety of breeds. Alongside her love for dogs, she nurtured a passion for photography, which led her to study for a Bachelors in photography and build a successful career capturing canine subjects.
Over the past year, Fisher has travelled across the UK to document the Clumber Spaniel, Field Spaniel, Sussex Spaniel, Spanish Water Spaniel and Welsh Springer Spaniel, among which are breeds that The Kennel Club classifies as vulnerable due to their declining registration numbers. Through her lens, she highlights their working ability and movement in the field, as well as their elegance in the show ring.
The exhibition also includes photographs of the Lagotto Romagnolo, a breed which has recently gained notability due to the King welcoming a Lagotto puppy into the Royal household.
Photographer Melody said: “I chose to focus my project on minority spaniel breeds to raise awareness of their versatility, both in competition and in their traditional roles. With numbers in decline, I hope this exhibition highlights their remarkable attributes and encourages more people to discover these wonderful breeds.”
Heidi Hudson, Curator of Photographic Collections at The Kennel Club, commented: “We are excited to showcase photographic work by Melody Fisher, a previous Young Kennel Club member. It's great to see how young people growing up in the world of dogs with a keen interest in photography can grow their careers from hobbyists to professionals.
“Melody has an excellent eye for dog photography and has created an engaging portfolio of various breed photos. One of my favourite photos from her Minority Spaniels capsule exhibition is the Two Clumbers Charging Through The Lavender - it has a sense of play and light-heartedness, yet captures beautifully the colours and composition of the dogs in the purple colours.”
The Kennel Club Art Gallery is world class collection of art and artefacts about dogs. Situated in Mayfair, London, Situated in Mayfair, London, it’s open by appointment to all art lovers with an interest in dogs and welcomes visitors from all over the world.
The exhibition is free to enter and open to the public from April 9 – June 27 at The Kennel Club Art Gallery, 10 Clarges Street, Mayfair, W1J 8AB, from 9:30am to 4pm.
To book your visit, please email Art.Gallery@thekennelclub.org.uk or call 020 7518 1064.