Confused about football and art? You're not the only one mistaking Van Gogh for Van Gaal

Research finds that just under half of Brits never visit a gallery or museum

Van Gogh Gaal mash-up

Can you tell a Monet from a Munch? How about a Vincent Van Gogh from a Louis van Gaal? Well, if you thought that last name belonged to a famous artist and not the Manchester United manager you're not alone.

According to research 5 percent of Brits confused Gaal for a professional artist while 10 percent believed Edvard Munch, painter of The Scream, was a professional footballer.

Findings also revealed that one in ten people aged under 45 thought that Claude Monet was a celebrity chef and that over half (55 percent) could not identify Johannes Vermeer as the painter of The Girl with the Pearl Earring despite having been the subject of a Hollywood blockbuster starring Colin Firth.

While recognition of many classic artists was not great, when it came to modern ones, Brits found it a lot easier, with 62 percent identifying Banksy’s Girl with a Balloon correctly.

'The Edge of the Canvas' exhibition at Pure Evil Gallery in London

The survey also asked people how often they visit museums or galleries to which 44 percent said they never do, and a further 27 per cent saying they only go once a year. The top three reasons for not going were that galleries are “boring”, “too expensive” and that “the art on display is not relevant anymore”.

Taking inspiration from the results, graffiti artist Pure Evil and fine art painter Paul Karslake modernised six classic pieces of art by extending their canvas.

The re-imagined pieces include Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring sitting next to Boris Johnson on a London bus and Edvard Munch’s The Scream depicted as a reaction to Zayn Malik leaving One Direction.

An exhibition, The Edge of The Canvas, is open until 23rd April at The Pure Evil Gallery, London and the research was commissioned by 02.