But he said anyone interested in 20th Century British art should find something in the gallery to pique their interest.
“This is one of the great galleries anywhere in the United Kingdom,” he said.
Visitors will also be able to see a major new exhibition by the Southampton artist and musician Emma Richardson.
When she is not busy playing the bass guitar with the US alternative rock band The Pixies, Emma has been known to pick up the odd paint brush or two.
This is her first museum show and while she is not one to over-sell herself.
“I have always known I wanted to paint and have exhibitions and show my work and this is such a huge monumental moment for me,” she said.
“Southampton is my hometown so to be able to be here and show this new body of work and to pick work from the collection is a real honour, a homecoming.”
