Latest news with #LondonOriginalPrintFair
The Independent
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
London's oldest art fair marks 40th year with new works by celebrated British artists
Art fans spilled out of Somerset House as they tried to get their hands on a new work by renowned British print artist David Shrigley at the London Original Print Fair on Thursday (20 March). Now celebrating its 40th year, the fair saw iconic pieces by Picasso, Hockney, Warhol, Basquiat, Joan Miró and Tracey Emin hang walls away from Shrigley's 'I Will Not Allow The Dark Skies To Affect Me' – a yellow chick in his signature childlike style. The fair's anniversary exhibition, Prints from Private Collections: 40 years of Print Collecting, saw some 1,200 works from more than 40 exhibitors displayed in the rooms of Somerset House, with galleries bringing collections inclusive of everything from British Modernism to Indian printmaking to the walls. New work by Peter Blake – the legendary pop artist who co-created The Beatles' iconic Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover – was unveiled at the fair by CCA Galleries. Elsewhere for music lovers, works by Radiohead's Thom Yorke were hung by Tin Man Art alongside pieces by the band's celebrated artwork designer Stanley Donwood, including the abstract album cover for OK Computer. For the Prints from Private Collections anniversary display, returning gallery Abbott and Holder collaborated with the Imperial War Museum to present a spotlight exhibition, 'The Great War: Britain's Efforts and Ideals'. The collection, previously held in storage at the Imperial War Museum, showcased original prints commissioned in 1917 from eighteen artists, inspired by the industry and values of wartime Britain. It had been more than 100 years since a commercial gallery had exhibited the lithographs. The London Print Fair itself is of historical note. Launched in 1985, the event holds the title for the city's oldest art fair. Its director of 38 years, Helen Rosslyn, told The Independent the fair launched because print dealers mostly didn't have shops or galleries to display in, so founder Gordon Cooke partnered with the Royal Academy of Arts (the fair's home until 2020) to host 16 exhibitors. 'It was a little stockroom, really,' she said. 'From that, it's just kept growing as people got more comfortable about buying prints.' Art consumers may once have looked down their noses at purchasing prints, thinking of the works as more like photocopies than an edition carefully created by the artist. But Rosslyn says this couldn't be more wrong. 'Printmaking is quite collaborative,' she explained. 'You get an artist and they will find a printmaker who's a specialist in the business of printing. They'll tell them the right inks, the right paper, and the relationship between a printer and an artist might go on for 40 years,' she said. 'Prints are original artworks because the artist always anticipated making an addition,' Rosslyn said while explaining the difference between a print and a copy. 'They aren't just a reproduction or something artists have made as a painting,' the art fair director added. 'It dates right back to [Albrecht] Dürer's day. He realised that if he did a great painting it would get stuck in somebody rich's house. Whereas, if he made a woodcut, just the simply carpenter could buy [a print] with a week's wages.' Addressing the print market's place in the art world, Rosslyn continued: 'I sort of like to think of prints as a well kept secret. But a lot of galleries are now setting up 'editions' wings. They're recognising that not only do prints bring in more people who can afford to buy art but it's a stable way of selling and collecting in a steady market.' It's also one of the only ways you can own a Picasso work for under £10,000 a piece.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
London Original Print Fair 2024: Picasso, Warhol, Emin and more to be displayed at Somerset House
London's longest running art fair returns to Somerset House from 21 to 24 March, spanning six centuries of prodigious printmaking. From new works by Boo Saville, Grayson Perry, Sarah Morris and Paul Morrison, to rare prints by Picasso, Miro, Twombly, Bacon, Freud, Emin and more; the breadth of printmaking's history and the diversity of its many forms will be shared at the London Original Print Fair (LOPF). 'We are thrilled to announce the return of LOPF and to welcome many new exhibitors to the fair this year from as far afield as New York and Tokyo," LOPF director Helen Rosslyn said. "It is wonderful to see printmaking gain prominence in the art world and to provide a platform for emerging printmakers, experimenting with both time-honoured and groundbreaking techniques." Related Pancaked Popes & bananas: What is the Vatican's surprising choice for the Venice Biennale? Exiled Russian artist Katya Muromtseva paints the stories of women immigrants in Dubai Featuring 45 exhibitors from all around the world, the LOPF is extensive - if a little overwhelming. Highlights include contemporary pieces by London-based artists Thomas J Price, Anj Smith and Sonia Boyce, alongside historical works by Phyllida Barlow, Louise Bourgeois, Luchita Hurtado, Takesada Matsutani and more. Atelier Le Grand Village, a studio based in the south-west of France that specialises in reviving the art of stone lithography, will be among the exhibitors. Bringing works from artists around the world, these include South African artist Diane Victor's manière noire stone lithograph triptych. Meanwhile, innovation is highlighted through exhibitors such as Austrian start-up LITO Editions, whose use of pioneering technologies give their works eye-boggling 3-D textural effects. For fans of Somerset House's current exhibition 'CUTE', a dedication to cats and all things contemporarily kitsch, the playful prints of young Japanese artists like Kawakami Yoshiro tie in perfectly. Inspired by Japanese animation and traditional 'kokeshi' dolls, Yoshiro's characterful aesthetics pay tribute to the enduring appeal of 'Kawaii'. As well as highlighting the very best in contemporary printmaking, LOPF delves into the medium's rich history, displaying everything from 17th-century engravings to the works of Golden Age greats like Dutch artist Jan Van de Velde II. Highly-anticipated is a sought-after collection of twelve life-size mezzotint portraits by Thomas Frye, renowned for his 18th-century mezzotint engravings. Of note is also Vistavka Fine Art Gallery's display of 18th-century French pastel manner engravings, which include pieces from Louis Marin Bonnet's "Les Estampes Anglaises" series, "where he daringly incorporated gold leaf in defiance of state regulations," the press release states. The Peter Harrington Gallery will feature works by iconic artists including an Edvard Munch-inspired print by Tracey Emin, and "Mammy [Sylvia Williams]" by Andy Warhol (1981), one of ten prints from the pop art legend's renowned 'Myths' portfolio. When not perusing the vast displays, there's the opportunity to attend workshops and talks by academics and trailblazing British artists such as Norman Ackroyd RA. Special tribute will be paid to the the life and works of legendary printmaker Joe Tilson, a post-war British pop art pioneer who died last year. London Original Print Fair takes place at Somerset House in London, UK from 21-24 March.
Reuters
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Reuters
London's longest-running art fair, dedicated to prints, celebrates 40 years
LONDON, March 19 (Reuters) - The London Original Print Fair, the British capital's longest-running art fair, celebrates its 40th anniversary this week with an array of works spanning from Old Masters to contemporary creations. Running March 20-23 at Somerset House, this year's edition features more than 40 studios, dealers and publishers with displayed works including by the likes of Damien Hirst, Tom Hammick and Grayson Perry as well as emerging talent and up-and-coming names from around the world. The fair, which launched in June 1985 with 16 exhibitors, has long offered fans the chance to view and buy prints, considered more affordable than paintings and sculptures. "Prints have become much more widely trusted," director Helen Rosslyn told Reuters. "I think people are realizing that print is not just a reproduction, it's something that's made in collaboration with the artist and a printer."
Asharq Al-Awsat
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
London's Longest-Running Art Fair, Dedicated to Prints, Celebrates 40 Years
The London Original Print Fair, the British capital's longest-running art fair, celebrates its 40th anniversary this week with an array of works spanning from Old Masters to contemporary creations. Running March 20-23 at Somerset House, this year's edition features more than 40 studios, dealers and publishers with displayed works including by the likes of Damien Hirst, Tom Hammick and Grayson Perry as well as emerging talent and up-and-coming names from around the world. The fair, which launched in June 1985 with 16 exhibitors, has long offered fans the chance to view and buy prints, considered more affordable than paintings and sculptures. "Prints have become much more widely trusted," director Helen Rosslyn told Reuters. "I think people are realizing that print is not just a reproduction, it's something that's made in collaboration with the artist and a printer."
Euronews
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
London Original Print Fair 2025: What are this year's highlights?
Timeless and tangible, printmaking democratised art collecting and continues to shape social values through its boundary-pushing creative and technological achievements. For four decades now, the London Original Print Fair (LOPF) has been at the forefront of championing the medium - a milestone being celebrated through a dynamic programme of classic and contemporary works at Somerset House from 20-23 March 2025. Featuring specially created new designs and exclusive editions by legendary artists like Peter Blake, David Shrigley, Gavin Turk, Nicole Farhi and more, it's a rare opportunity to own something truly unique. Founded in 1985 by a small group of eight print dealers, LOPF has grown to international acclaim as London's longest running art fair, crossing eras and styles through vast showcases that capture every contour of the craft. 'Celebrating 40 years of the London Original Print Fair is a proud moment for all of us," says Helen Rosslyn, Director of the London Original Print Fair. "Over the decades, we've witnessed the remarkable evolution of printmaking, and it's been incredibly rewarding to see the growing appreciation for this medium." The event will feature more than 40 exhibitors, including contributions from publishers, studios and leading international galleries like White Cube, Hauser & Wirth, Marcus Campbell Art Books, Taymour Grahne Projects, Tin Man Art, India Printmaker House and Hommage. The displayed works span six centuries of printmaking, from Old Masters to contemporary talents that collectively capture the breadth of an ever-evolving medium grounded in perennial appeal. Some of this year's works have been commissioned in honour of the fair's 40th anniversary - a highlight being London-based artist Tom Hammick's striking 1930s-style woodcut poster. "I decided to make an edition variable woodcut printed in many colours so that in their digital reproduction of my print poster it would be like a flip book full of Pantone colours," Hammick tells Euronews Culture. "As far as the composition of the images goes, I wanted to combine a schematic of the extraordinary facade of Somerset House with a young couple literally skipping up the red carpet to the private view." Manifold Editions, who specialise in the publication of limited edition art prints, will also pay tribute to 40 years of the fair through two exciting new launches. These include a series of iconic pigment prints by British artist Gavin Turk and light-hued etchings by Canadian artist Chris Levine, as well as new editions of prints by Grayson Perry, Marc Quinn and Boo Saville. Female printmakers lead the White Cube's contributions, with prints by Tracey Emin, Louise Giovanelli and IIana Savdie, while the contemporary art gallery Hauser & Wirth intertwines the historical and modern through a diverse selection featuring Swiss artist Dieter Roth, South African printmaker William Kentridge, Hungarian abstract artist Rita Ackermann, and a large silkscreen by Rashid Johnson. In another exclusive, Jealous gallery and studio are releasing a limited-edition print by the Turner-nominated artist David Shrigley, beloved for his contemporary child-like illustrations. "When we started, the fair was mostly about Old Masters. Now, it's largely contemporary printmakers, with more artists embracing print as a vital part of their practice," Rosslyn tells Euronews Culture. "Young collectors have really embraced printmaking too, drawn to its accessibility, creativity, and the craftsmanship behind it." Exhibiting for the first time, Tin Man Art gallery brings some fascinating works related to British band Radiohead, including a new Stanley Donwood series with Thom Yorke, created at the famous fine art printing studio Idem Paris. Meanwhile, fans of Peter Blake should head to the CCA Galleries' booth for a treat, which will launch a special edition print by the pop art icon - and other new editions of works from French artist Nicole Farhi and Scottish painter Bruce Mclean. For the first time, this year's event brings greater representation of international printmakers and exhibitors from China, Japan and India. India Printmaker House will share limited edition prints by seven emerging artists from India and the UK Indian diaspora, while galleries Hanga Ten, Tokyo Art and TAG Fine Arts all represent contemporary Japanese artists. This includes an unmissable series by Katsutoshi Yuasa, who recently celebrated the Venice Biennale's 60th anniversary with his 'Immortal Venice' hand-carved woodcut print. Perhaps the greatest joy of LOPF is its devotion to the history of printmaking, and those that pioneered it from the 18th-century onwards. Through a carefully curated selection of masterworks, the fair opens a portal to the past that laps at the present. Of note are Vistavka Fine Art Gallery's rare 18th-century prints, including highly-sought after proofs by Philibert-Louis Debucourt and early engravings from Pierre Filloeul. The 20th-century in particular sparked a revival of the art form, with many influential creators turning away from its heavily commercialised elements and implementing traditional techniques to reframe printmaking as standalone works of art. These examples undercurrent LOPF, with galleries such as Abbott & Holder sharing works by pre and post-war trailblazers like Edward Bawden, Eric Ravilious and James McNeill Whistler. Gwen Hughes Fine Art will also showcase a range of 1950s-1990s Modern British works from artists including Sandra Blow, Prunella Clough, Howard Hodgkin, and Kim Lim. The 'London, New York, Bristol' exhibition is another must-see, centred around leading 20th-century greats like David Hockney, Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Banksy, including a rare portrait print of Elizabeth Taylor that's signed by Warhol and Taylor. If Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Joan Miró are more your thing, visit first-time exhibitors Hommage Art, who will have a wide range of original exhibition posters and lithographs curated by prestigious print houses like Mourlot. As you've likely gathered, there really is something for everyone here - but collecting or not, most enticing is the fair's communal embrace of non-hierarchical art. "What really sets LOPF apart is the atmosphere," Rosslyn says. "It's not just about buying prints; it's about meeting the artists and dealers, hearing their stories, and discovering something new. Whether it's your first piece or your latest addition, it's an inspiring, welcoming space to explore and collect." The London Original Print Fair takes place from 20-23 March 2025 at Somerset House in London, UK. Italian architect Stefano Boeri and his studio have won the MIPIM award in the Best Mix-Use Project category for their Wonderwoods Vertical Forest building in the Netherlands. The award, presented at the annual MIPIM international real estate trade show held in Cannes, recognises the most 'useful, sustainable and visionary projects' in the real estate industry. Located in Utrecht, Wonderwoods Vertical Forest is a 104-metre tower that includes 360 trees and 50,000 plants on its façades, the 'equivalent to the vegetation of a hectare of forest.' The project aims to improve the quality of life in the area, by enhancing biodiversity and absorbing carbon dioxide. 'This is a real urban ecosystem, a haven for the biodiversity of living species', the Stefano Boeri Architetti studio said in a statement. The high-rise, which opened in February, is the first vertical forest in the Netherlands to incorporate both apartments and public spaces, including services and commercial areas. 'The recognition of the MIPIM Award as the best 'Mixed Use' building in the world, has captured the profoundly urban character of Wonderwoods: a multipurpose and highly biodiverse architecture, open to the daily life of the citizens, plants and birds of Utrecht', said architect Francesca Cesa Bianchi during the award ceremony on 13 March. Stefano Boeri is known for his innovate urban forestry designs. One of his most famous projects is the Bosco Verticale – literally the "Vertical Forest" – two residential towers covered in vegetation, built in Milan. Completed in 2014, the creation received worldwide recognition in the architecture community, winning the 2014 International Highrise Award and the 2015 Best Tall Building Worldwide. Stefano Boeri went on to replicate his design all over the world. In 2021, he opened the Trudo Vertical Forest in the Netherlands, applying for the first time his concept to a social housing complex. The Stefano Boeri Architetti studio also has ongoing projects in China and Dubai. 'I try to promote urban forestation because that's what we need," Boeri told Euronews in 2021. "We have to multiply the number of trees everywhere. And the reasons are very clear. It's a faster, cheaper and more inclusive way to try to take down global warming.'
