Peter Blake: A Retrospective (Paperback)

In 2007, Tate Liverpool will present the first retrospective exhibition of the work of Peter Blake since 1983. A key figure in the history of British Pop Art, Blake is one of the most influential and original artists working in Britain today. A constant theme central to Blake's work since the 1950s has been his fascination with popular culture, ranging from music to Hollywood screen idols and wrestling stars. Perhaps his most famous engagment with pop came with his design for The Beatles' album "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". With this and other works he helped create a specifically British pop aesthetic that defined an era. A prolific artist, he has utilised a variety of media including painting, drawing, collage, sculpture and print-making; this study focuses principally on his two dimensional works, providing the first thorough survey of his paintings from the 1950s through to the present. It will include works that have become iconic, such as "Self Portrait with Badges" (1961), and "Have a Nice Day Mr Hockney" (1981-3), but will also feature lesser known works, concluding with his recent, major work "The Marcel Duchamp World Series". This volume will establish beyond doubt Blake's claim as one of the foremost British artists of the 20th century, explaining why he is frequently cited as a key influence by contemporary artists today.