Posted June 19, 2024 by Mike Goldstein
Whenever fans of music and music-related art are asked to pick a rock-era album cover “top 10”, there are albums that are always appearing at or near the top of these lists, with one seminal work of art – the cover collage designed by a team of talented people led by pop art superstar Peter Blake (now Sir Peter Blake) that’s found on the cover of The Beatles’ Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band LP – being inevitably in the Top 3. Of course, Blake’s work is also found on other well-known album packages for The Who (Face Dances), Eric Clapton (24 Nights); Oasis (Stop The Clocks), Sweet Child for Pentangle and the soul-stirring collage for Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas?, the Live Aid-related famine relief fund-raising record, but art collectors from around the world have also long-appreciated the designer’s portfolio of work outside the music business, so this new retrospective print collection that will be on display in the gallery (through the 2nd of July) will be what is perhaps the most extensive presentation of Blake’s work to date, featuring many of the iconic works that earned him the moniker ‘The Godfather of Pop Art’.
Peter Blake – A Print Retrospective opens to the public on the 22nd of June, but guests to the show’s private opening viewing at the gallery the evening before will be treated to a special appearance of the artist’s iconic Art Bus. For night only, guests will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to board the bus for a trip around Brighton and enjoy a selection of artworks on display. Visitors might also want to wish Sir Peter a “happy birthday” on or near the 25th of June, which will be his 92nd birthday.
According to the show’s advance PR, “the exhibition delves deep into the life and legacy of Blake, showcasing a wide range of works that illustrate the wild and vibrant career of Blake and his journey from a young lad from Dartford to one of the most celebrated contemporary artists in British art history.
Enter Gallery is the leading dealer of Blake’s printed editions (with a relationship that began back in 2007) and the retrospective will showcase Blake’s diverse practice ranging from collage classics to typography, found art and painted portraiture. The exhibition will provide the perfect opportunity to honour the talent and prolific output of one of Britain’s most beloved and famous artists.”
More information on this event can be found on the gallery’s website at https://entergallery.com/pages/peter-blake-a-retrospective and, to reserve your space on the June 21st Art Bus event, click on over to Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/peter-blake-a-print-retrospective-tickets-915319393947
Thanks to Kasimiira Kontio from Atelier Public Relations for the advance information on this exciting event and to the folks at Enter Gallery for the images used to illustrate this article.
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