Tate Liverpool presents hospital with artwork celebrating NHS staff

The artwork depicts workers at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital during the pandemic.

The artwork of hospital staff is by Aliza Nisenbaum (Gareth Jones/PA)

Tate Liverpool has presented a hospital with a group portrait that celebrates the achievements of its frontline NHS staff.

The gallery, which commissioned New York-based artist Aliza Nisenbaum to create the artwork during the Covid pandemic, said Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool will display the painting from Thursday.

Team Time Storytelling, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital Emergency Department, Covid Pandemic, 2020 was shown at the gallery two years ago in an exhibition of other portraits from that time.

Helen Legg, director of Tate Liverpool, said: “Tate is proud to be able to unveil Aliza Nisenbaum’s painting at Alder Hey – a rare example of an artwork from the national collection on view to the public in a non-arts setting.

“Aliza’s image of NHS frontline workers during the pandemic moved everyone who saw it.

“Seeing it on display again is an acknowledgement of the value of our NHS as it celebrates its 75th anniversary and is a tribute to those who care for us.”

The work features staff including those who work in administration, nurses, porters and doctors.

Nisenbaum, who was unable to do a residency in Liverpool in spring 2020, asked each person to make a drawing about their workplace experiences during the pandemic and these are included within the final image.

She used photographs and Zoom to paint her subjects.

Nisenbaum has had solo exhibitions in New York and group installations in South Korea, Los Angeles and Paris, France, and in addition has created work for the London Underground.

Louise Shepherd, chief executive of Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, said: “There is much to be proud of as we approach the 75th birthday of the NHS and this artwork is a valuable reminder of the outstanding dedication of our staff during the recent pandemic.

“The unveiling of this stunning painting at Alder Hey is a huge honour and is testament to the fantastic support Tate Liverpool has given to our arts for health programme for 20 years.

“We have delivered some incredible collaborative programmes during that time and I look forward to us together bringing further benefits to our children and young people in the future.”