Blake aims to nail his Sergeant Pepper reputation with 40 years of sculpture
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.To the population at large, he will always be the artist who designed the album sleeve for the Beatles' Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
But in an attempt to prove he is far more than a one-trick pony, Peter Blake, now 71, unveiled the first major restrospective of his sculpture yesterday. The works span more than 40 years. They range from a piece dated 1959 to a series inspired by dreams that was completed on Saturday night.
Other recent works include references to his friendships with the young stars of contemporary art, such as Still Life - then and now, for Damien [Hirst], a collection of miniature bottles of alcohol.
The exhibition, at the London Institute Gallery in Davies Street, W1, until 19 December, is the last of the "encores" he planned after announcing his "conceptual retirement" at the National Gallery in 1996. Previous "encores" have featured his collages, his collections of inspiring objects and other artists' work and his commercial art. He has also curated shows, notably the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition.
"I'm known as a painter, but I am pretty eclectic. I wanted to take these other works and put them on a wall and say, 'This is what I did'," he said yesterday.
"When I had my show at the National Gallery I made this emotional retirement because I was 65. I retired from the battle, from the envy and ambition and jealousy and stuff like that. I decided the National Gallery was the finale and then everything could be an encore."
He admits that although he remains immensely proud of Sergeant Pepper, he got "fed up" over the years with constant references to it. The irritation was partly because he was paid little and pursued a late and unsuccessful legal battle for reimbursement from the Apple record label.
He said he would now return to concentrating on painting. He is planning a show of new work at the Waddington Gallery in London next year.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments