Art gallery boss warned she may be breaking law over naked painting

An art gallery boss has been told she might be committing a public order offence by displaying a painting of a naked woman in her High Street shop window.

Officers visited The Chair gallery in Hay-on-Wye on Wednesday and Thursday after receiving complaints about the painting from passers by, gallery manager Val Harris said via her Instagram account.

The artwork that has raised eyebrows features a naked woman in cowboy boots with her legs spread to reveal a black triangle with pink wool instead of her genitals.

Artist Poppy Baynham created the painting as part of a wider exhibition of work she made with her sister.

The force told MailOnline that the neighbourhood policing team is monitoring the situation after officers received a report about the painting.

Ms Harris said that they 'aren't going to take it out of the window' as the gallery is  'making a stand' against the complaints.

Hay Town Council said in a statement it had not received any complaints about the painting and that no action is being planned, the BBC has reported. 

Naked women or men feature in some of the world's most famous pieces of art leaving Ms Baynham confused over the backlash her work has received, with some labelling it as 'pornography'.

Taking to social media, she said: 'It is sad to see so many women upset by something that we all have. 

'Most straight women haven't seen a vulva so I see why they might be scared of it and it is clear to me there must be a lot of straight women in Hay. 

'I think also penises can be seen as comical while vulvas are only sexual. The reason why I paint the female body and not the male body is because I want the world to normalise these non-sexual body parts that 50 per cent of the world have. 

'This is also the reason why I don't want to take it down. If I took it down, the whole reason why I do what I do will be thrown back in my face. 

'When I started painting it, I didn't have one thought in my head thinking this would even get commented on. 

'Half the art out there is nudity so why should I remove it? Why is it inappropriate?'

The painting was chosen to be placed in the window partly due to its size but soon after being displayed on Monday, Ms Harris said she was called back to the gallery following reports of abuse from several passers by.

She added that when police turned up on Thursday they asked if she would remove it from the window and put it inside the gallery instead.

A sign next to the painting urged members of the public o share their views inside a visitor book inside the art gallery.

Ms Harris revealed that the response had been '50:50'  with some people calling it as 'inappropriate' or 'lewd' while others were unmoved about the display.

Many have also taken to social media in support of Ms Baynham following the backlash she has received.

One user wrote: 'Some people. And shame on the police, wasting their time on such nonsenses, twice.

'Do the complainants have nothing better to do? I'd think better of them if they came in to discuss it directly with you, rather than hiding behind the law.'

Another added: 'Oh wow, that's not offensive at all. What is wrong with people. You are right, leave it in the window.'

However, others believed that the painting unsuitable for display in the gallery's window.   

One commenter wrote: 'I think there's a difference between painting the human figure without clothing and painting bodies in a sexualised way. 

'The paintings in your window are very sexualised. So, my judgement would be that they are not suitable for a window display, perfectly fine within your gallery. 

'It would be considerate for parents to be aware that there are sexually themed paintings within, so you give them the freedom to choose, rather than impose these pictures upon them.'