Sir Peter Blake RA is an English artist often referred to as the Godfather of British Pop Art, best known for his limited edition prints and the design of the sleeve for The Beatles' album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Born in Dartford, Kent, Blake studied at Gravesend School of Art before being accepted into the prestigious Royal College of Art in London. He graduated in 1956, received a Leverhulme Research Award to study popular art, and travelled extensively, drawing inspiration as he roamed. Sir Peter Blake's fondness for popular culture can be clearly seen in much of his eclectic collages and silk screen prints with images of Marilyn Monroe mixing with Mona Lisa.
Art Features
ReplyDeleteSir Peter Blake: why I chose Pop over pot
The pioneer of Pop talks to Roya Nikkhah about being the grandfather of British art, shunning the Sixties' drug culture – and the anguish caused by his most famous work, the Beatles' Sgt Pepper album cover
Sir Peter Blake
By Roya Nikkhah 7:00AM BST 25 Jul 2010
1 Comment
Sir Peter Blake doesn't really look like the pioneer of Pop Art. In fact, the white-haired, grandfatherly figure shaking my hand looks like the last person in the world who might have created the riot of colour surrounding us in an auction house in west London, where prints of Marilyn Monroe, The Beatles and The Beach Boys are being mounted on the walls. But then, of course, Blake has never really fit the mould of what a famous artist should be, or do, consistently crossing the boundaries of fine art.
The 78-year-old is busy hanging his latest show, 60 Years of Printmaking, yet there is surprisingly little material from his 1960s heyday. "I look back with surprise that I did so few prints in the early days," he says. "I think in the Sixties, when most of my contemporaries were making a lot of prints, like [David] Hockney and [RB] Kitaj, on some kind of odd principle I didn't make any. It was a curious kind of moral stand, something to do with commercialism and just making things to be sold, whereas now I'm much happier to embrace all of that."
Blake has since lent his artwork to book jackets, deck chairs, shopping bags and album covers for The Who, Paul Weller, Oasis, and The Beatles for whom he designed the legendary cover to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in 1967.
Still, the art world has always held him at arm's length because, he says, of his jack-of-all trades approach to his work. "I've certainly felt it [snobbery]. It's always been a difficult point that my work is very diverse. Most painters find a path and stay to it. This kind of diversity isn't welcomed in the fine art world, but I hope I've made it become a virtue."
So did he ever mind not being a fully signed-up member to the art establishment? "Elements have bothered me, like the Venice Biennale," he says, stroking his beard. "I know that one year I was shortlisted [to represent Britain]. But it never happened." However, he has just been commissioned to produce a painting of St Martin to hang in St Paul's cathedral, and excitedly pulls out his first sketch. "And tomorrow and the day after, I'm getting doctorates from Roehampton University and Brunel University [to add to his honorary doctorates from the Royal College of Art and University of London] so coincidentally, it's suddenly a crescendo of the establishment getting [itals] too [itals] overexcited."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/art-features/7908366/Sir-Peter-Blake-why-I-chose-Pop-over-pot.html
Here is some links to google on Peter Blake's latest stuff.
ReplyDeleteBlake's artworks made with Brian Wilson, 'That Lucky Old Sun' 2009
Blake at the Tate Gallery, including a biography. and images of several of his works
Jonathon Jones on Blake's Self-Portrait With Badges (1961) from The Guardian
A profile of Peter Blake by Nicholas Wroe from The Guardian
Brotherhood of Ruralists web site
Peter Blake article in Art & Culture magazine
June 2002 BBC article about Blake
Autumn 2006 interview in Liverpool's 'Nerve' magazine
Videos for Peter Blake
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYY-3iYVzpk
http://vimeo.com/3713116
Peter Blake Launches Holburne Museum Public Appeal
ReplyDeleteTHE HOLBURNE MUSEUM
Media Information
12 November 2010
With a little help from our friends
Peter Blake launches the Holburne Museum Public Appeal with a recreation of his most famous work
Today artist Sir Peter Blake launched the Holburne Challenge, the Museum’s public appeal, which aims to raise £300,000 with the help of our community. This will help us complete the development project which will transform the Museum and what it can offer everyone.
http://www.holburne.org/peter-blake-launches-holburne-museum-public-appeal/
Sir Peter Blake back in Bath to open art exhibition
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Pioneering painter Sir Peter Blake today returned to his beloved city of Bath to open an unusual exhibition.
Sir Peter, who used to live in Wellow, was in the city to celebrate the work of the late artist Craigie Aitchison.
He opened an exhibition in Lansdown Crescent, which includes 20 of Scotsman Aitchison’s paintings loaned to the University of Bath from private collections across the South West.
The exhibition is the first of his work since the artist’s death last year.
Sir Peter, who is best known for designing the sleeve for the Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper album, now lives in Chiswick.
The 78-year-old said he was pleased to be back in Bath: “I think Bath is a beautiful city, and I always like to come back whenever I can.
“I was pleased to be asked to open the exhibition, as it gave me the excuse to visit.
“The artwork displayed in the exhibition is wonderful, and the surroundings complement the paintings.”
Sir Peter has decorated a lion, which stands at Victoria Art Gallery, as part of the Lions of Bath public art project, following his involvement two years ago in the King Bladud’s Pigs Project.
The Craigie Aitchison exhibition is being held at the residence of the University of Bath vice chancellor, Professor Glynis Breakwell.
Craigie, who was best known for his paintings of the Bedlington Terrier and crucifixions, received an honorary doctor of arts degree from the university.
Professor Breakwell said: “Craigie was an exceptional artist.
“The university is privileged to honour his work in this first retrospective exhibition.”
The exhibition will be held at 16 Lansdown Crescent, from Friday until Sunday, from 12 noon until 4pm.
Sir Peter Blake back in Bath to open art exhibition
Sir Peter Blake
Pioneering painter Sir Peter Blake today returned to his beloved city of Bath to open an unusual exhibition.
Sir Peter, who used to live in Wellow, was in the city to celebrate the work of the late artist Craigie Aitchison.
He opened an exhibition in Lansdown Crescent, which includes 20 of Scotsman Aitchison’s paintings loaned to the University of Bath from private collections across the South West.
The exhibition is the first of his work since the artist’s death last year.
Sir Peter, who is best known for designing the sleeve for the Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper album, now lives in Chiswick.
The 78-year-old said he was pleased to be back in Bath: “I think Bath is a beautiful city, and I always like to come back whenever I can.
“I was pleased to be asked to open the exhibition, as it gave me the excuse to visit.
“The artwork displayed in the exhibition is wonderful, and the surroundings complement the paintings.”
Sir Peter has decorated a lion, which stands at Victoria Art Gallery, as part of the Lions of Bath public art project, following his involvement two years ago in the King Bladud’s Pigs Project.
The Craigie Aitchison exhibition is being held at the residence of the University of Bath vice chancellor, Professor Glynis Breakwell.
Craigie, who was best known for his paintings of the Bedlington Terrier and crucifixions, received an honorary doctor of arts degree from the university.
Professor Breakwell said: “Craigie was an exceptional artist.
“The university is privileged to honour his work in this first retrospective exhibition.”
The exhibition will be held at 16 Lansdown Crescent, from Friday until Sunday, from 12 noon until 4pm.
Tess here is the link about his latest charity work we chatted about for the presentation.
ReplyDeletehttp://contextualstudiesassignment.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.html
Hope this helps.
Thank you mike!
ReplyDeleteYou'll have to show us the video tommorow cant click on the link :/
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ReplyDeleteTess, only just seen this, if you c&p it on google it should get you there.
ReplyDelete