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British pop art pioneers take belated bow in Christie's show British pop art pioneers take belated bow in Christie's show
(2 months later)
They were pioneers and international innovators, but the achievements of early British pop artists have often been overlooked – remarkably, there has not been a UK exhibition devoted to their work apart from a touring show from Germany which visited York in 1976.They were pioneers and international innovators, but the achievements of early British pop artists have often been overlooked – remarkably, there has not been a UK exhibition devoted to their work apart from a touring show from Germany which visited York in 1976.
But now the auction house Christie's has said it is planning to fill the gap, staging a major show in new gallery space it is to open in central London later this year.But now the auction house Christie's has said it is planning to fill the gap, staging a major show in new gallery space it is to open in central London later this year.
The opening of Christie's Mayfair in Bond Street represents something of a first for an auction house. It will occupy 11,500 sq ft of space over three floors to stage three or four museum-quality curated exhibitions every year that are, according to Francis Outred, "interesting, intellectual academic shows which are also commercial".The opening of Christie's Mayfair in Bond Street represents something of a first for an auction house. It will occupy 11,500 sq ft of space over three floors to stage three or four museum-quality curated exhibitions every year that are, according to Francis Outred, "interesting, intellectual academic shows which are also commercial".
Outred, Christie's head of postwar and contemporary art, said the model did not exist in the UK, adding that early British pop art was crying out for serious appraisal. "What's really interesting here is that it's not like the British were second – they were first. Britain invented the term pop art and it is now a global phenomenon which is known principally as an American phenomenon."Outred, Christie's head of postwar and contemporary art, said the model did not exist in the UK, adding that early British pop art was crying out for serious appraisal. "What's really interesting here is that it's not like the British were second – they were first. Britain invented the term pop art and it is now a global phenomenon which is known principally as an American phenomenon."
The show is expected to feature 70 works from artists including David Hockney, Allen Jones, Patrick Caulfield, Peter Blake, and RB Kitaj.The show is expected to feature 70 works from artists including David Hockney, Allen Jones, Patrick Caulfield, Peter Blake, and RB Kitaj.
It will show how it was British artists who went on to influence the big American pop artists such as Warhol and Lichtenstein. "As the Americans became more and more popular and strong it seems the Brits became a bit more shy and went more esoteric," said Outred. "The aim of this show is to bring it back to its core roots and show how strong, visual and directly communicative it was."It will show how it was British artists who went on to influence the big American pop artists such as Warhol and Lichtenstein. "As the Americans became more and more popular and strong it seems the Brits became a bit more shy and went more esoteric," said Outred. "The aim of this show is to bring it back to its core roots and show how strong, visual and directly communicative it was."
Although there have been British pop art shows in Spain, Italy and Germany, there has not been one in the UK since the touring one fetched up at Cïty Art Gallery in York in 1976. Brits were perhaps not good at blowing their own trumpet, suggested Outred, citing as a further example the fact that there still has not been a major museum survey of the YBAs.Although there have been British pop art shows in Spain, Italy and Germany, there has not been one in the UK since the touring one fetched up at Cïty Art Gallery in York in 1976. Brits were perhaps not good at blowing their own trumpet, suggested Outred, citing as a further example the fact that there still has not been a major museum survey of the YBAs.
When the show, titled When Britain Went Pop!, opens in three months it will have been a year in the planning. It is being staged in association with the Waddington Custot gallery which, as Waddingtons, was involved with many pop artists in the 1960s.When the show, titled When Britain Went Pop!, opens in three months it will have been a year in the planning. It is being staged in association with the Waddington Custot gallery which, as Waddingtons, was involved with many pop artists in the 1960s.
Christie's has also been working with living artists such as Jones and Blake and the families of other artists. The exhibition will show many works that have not been seen in public for decades and showcase pieces from the important Young Contemporaries show in 1961, including the first work David Hockney ever sold – which still has its £12 price tag on the back.Christie's has also been working with living artists such as Jones and Blake and the families of other artists. The exhibition will show many works that have not been seen in public for decades and showcase pieces from the important Young Contemporaries show in 1961, including the first work David Hockney ever sold – which still has its £12 price tag on the back.
Outred said: "One of the unique things about an auction house running a gallery is that we have access to things around the world and collections around the world, which means they have been able to track down works, many of which have not been seen since the 1960s, if at all."Outred said: "One of the unique things about an auction house running a gallery is that we have access to things around the world and collections around the world, which means they have been able to track down works, many of which have not been seen since the 1960s, if at all."
There will be surprises, said Outred, not least how far the works go back – with a 1948 proto-pop art collage by Eduardo Paolozzi being one of the earliest works.There will be surprises, said Outred, not least how far the works go back – with a 1948 proto-pop art collage by Eduardo Paolozzi being one of the earliest works.
The British pop artists were mostly men, although the show will have two women, Jann Haworth and Pauline Boty, who will be represented in the show by, ironically, a piece called It's a Man's World.The British pop artists were mostly men, although the show will have two women, Jann Haworth and Pauline Boty, who will be represented in the show by, ironically, a piece called It's a Man's World.
"It is very exciting," said Outred. "To be able to look at British pop art in such depth, to show the period as it was and to go into such detail on so many of the artists, will help us to make a strong argument for it being very undervalued both academically and in the marketplace.""It is very exciting," said Outred. "To be able to look at British pop art in such depth, to show the period as it was and to go into such detail on so many of the artists, will help us to make a strong argument for it being very undervalued both academically and in the marketplace."
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