Peter Blake

Peter Blake is an English pop artist. While Andy Warhol introduced pop art to a broader audience, many regard Peter Blake as the godfather of this movement. Beyond his paintings, he is recognized for his collages, incorporating images from popular culture.

Biography of Peter Blake

Born in 1932 in Dartford, Kent, Peter Thomas Blake received his education at Gravesend Technical College School of Art and the Royal College of Art.

In the late 1950s, Blake rose to prominence as one of the most recognizable British pop artists, known for creating paintings with a collage-like feel. His creations incorporated elements from published materials, news, advertisements, and the world of music hall entertainment. Inspired by the works of Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns, Blake adopted a new approach in 1959, producing collage-like pieces featuring musicians and film stars. He also ventured into crafting assemblages using recycled materials, postcards, and various found items.

"On the Balcony" (1955–57) stands as a significant early work by Blake, maintaining its iconic status within British Pop Art. Notable elements in the composition include a boy on the left holding Édouard Manet's painting "The Balcony," along with badges and magazines. The inspiration for this piece came from Honoré Sharrer's painting "Workers and Paintings," which depicted laborers holding famous artworks.

In addition to his collage work, Blake delved into imitation as a medium, creating painted collages, simulated pin-up boards, and locker doors. He enlarged and painted motifs from postcards and adapted posters. His affiliation with the emerging British Pop Art movement was solidified during the 1961 Young Contemporaries exhibition, where he exhibited alongside David Hockney and R.B. Kitaj.

Blake's "Self Portrait with Badges" earned him the John Moores Junior Award in 1961. The artist's popularity expanded to a broader audience when he was featured alongside Pauline Boty, Derek Boshier, and Peter Phillips in Ken Russell's Monitor film about pop art, titled "Pop Goes the Easel," which aired on the BBC in 1962.

In 1967, Blake collaborated with the artist Jann Haworth, who was also his ex-wife, to create the cover for the Beatles' album "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." This cover has achieved iconic status in the realm of pop art and is recognized as Blake's most famous work.

In 1969, Blake relocated from London to Bath, where he drew inspiration from the characters in Shakespearean plays and the tapestry of English folklore. During the early 1970s, he created a series of watercolor paintings to illustrate Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking-Glass," with the young artist Celia Wanless as the model for Alice. In 1975, he co-founded the Brotherhood of Ruralists.

Blake's return to London in 1979 marked a revival of his earlier incorporation of popular culture references. The artist designed album covers for several notable releases, including the Band-Aid single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 1984, Paul Weller's "Stanley Road" in 1995, and the tribute album "Brand New Boots and Panties" for Ian Dury. Additionally, he created album sleeves for Pentangle's "Sweet Child" and The Who's "Face Dances" in 1981, with the latter featuring portraits of the band crafted by various artists. In 2015, Blake designed the "Everybody Razzle Dazzle" artwork for the Snowdrop ship as part of a series of Dazzle Ship commissions commemorating the centenary of World War I. This project was a collaborative effort involving 14-18 NOW, Liverpool Biennial, Tate Liverpool, Merseytravel, and National Museums Liverpool.

Another notable achievement was his design work for the cover of the greatest hits album "Stop the Clocks" by the renowned British band Oasis in 2006. The cover art features recognizable cultural symbols, including Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz," Charles Manson (substituting the original depiction of Marilyn Monroe due to legal constraints), and the seven dwarfs from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."

In celebration of his 80th birthday, the 2012 exhibition titled "Peter Blake and Pop Music" was held at Pallant House Gallery in Chichester, honoring Blake's enduring connections with music. In 2014, he exhibited his illustrations inspired by "Under Milk Wood" at the National Museum Cardiff. Blake's artworks have been featured in exhibitions at prestigious venues, including Tate Liverpool, the Sir Peter Blake Music Art Gallery in Leeds, and the Holburne Museum in Bath.

The artist achieved significant recognition throughout his career. In 1981, he was appointed as a Royal Academician, followed by receiving the title of CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1983. In 2002, he was knighted in acknowledgment of his contributions to the world of art. In 2011, the University of Leeds conferred upon him an honorary Doctor of Music (DMus) degree, which was marked by the public unveiling of his artwork for the "Boogie For Stu" album. On July 18, 2011, Blake received further honors with an honorary degree for Doctor of Art from Nottingham Trent University.

Currently, Peter Blake resides and works in Chiswick, London.