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Tate Modern Exhibition

Richard Hamilton

13 February – 26 May 2014
Richard Hamilton
Richard Hamilton Photograph for the cover of Living Arts Magazine

Richard Hamilton Photograph for the cover of Living Arts Magazine

Richard Hamilton Towards a definitive statement on the coming trends in menswear and accessories (b) 1962

Richard Hamilton Towards a definitive statement on the coming trends in menswear and accessories (b) 1962

Richard Hamilton Epiphany 1964

Richard Hamilton Epiphany 1964

Richard Hamilton The critic laughs 1968

Richard Hamilton The critic laughs 1968

Richard Hamilton Self-portrait 05.3.81 a 1990

Richard Hamilton Self-portrait 05.3.81 a 1990

One of the most influential British artists of the 20th century, Richard Hamilton (1922–2011) is widely regarded as a founding figure of pop art, who continued to experiment and innovate over a career of 60 years. Tate Modern presents the first retrospective to encompass the full scope of Hamilton’s work, from his early exhibition designs of the 1950s to his final paintings of 2011. This exhibition explores his relationship to design, painting, photography and television, as well as his engagement and collaborations with other artists.

Hamilton is best known for his pivotal role in the birth of pop art, including the groundbreaking installation Fun House 1956. A centrepiece of the exhibition, this immersive room combines images from movie-posters, magazines and art history, and will be shown alongside a print of the era-defining Just what is it that makes today’s homes so different, so appealing?. The depiction of Mick Jagger in the iconic series Swingeing London 67 1968–9, as well as images of other celebrities such as Bing Crosby and Marilyn Monroe, will show Hamilton’s continued interest in popular culture. Wider contemporary issues and political subjects are also addressed in his work, including the Kent State shootings and the IRA ‘dirty protests’, as well as figures like Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair in such works as Treatment Room 1984 and Shock and Awe 2010. Hamilton’s interest in interiors, architecture and design is represented by his depictions of everything from the Guggenheim Museum in New York to a classic Braun toaster.

This is a knockout exhibition. Handsome, lucid and comprehensive, it does Hamilton proud
Daily Telegraph

This is a remarkable show
Metro

See this show. It's brilliant and important
The Sunday Times

Richard Hamilton is curated by Mark Godfrey, Curator of International Art, Tate Modern, Paul Schimmel and Vicente Todolí with Hannah Dewar, Assistant Curator, Tate Modern.

Exhibition organised by the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in collaboration with Tate Modern.

Tate Modern

Bankside
London SE1 9TG
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Dates

13 February – 26 May 2014

In partnership with

Time Out London logo

Time Out London

Related events

Find out more

  •  
     

    Urbane Images: Mark Leckey, Helen Marten and Stuart Bailey on Richard Hamilton

    This event at Tate Modern sees emerging British artist Helen Marten, graphic designer Stuart Bailey and Turner Prize winner Mark Leckey discuss Richard Hamilton's interests in design, typography, fashion, popular culture and display.

  • Richard Hamilton Photograph for the cover of Living Arts Magazine 1963 showing a bird's eye view of a white car on a pink floor

    From Growth and Form to Shock and Awe: An exploration of collage in its broadest sense

    This Tate Modern course lef by Lin Chiu called 'From Growth and Form to Shock and Awe: An exploration of collage in its broadest sense' taking place from 24 February – 31 March 2014

  • Richard Hamilton The annunciation 2005

    Richard Hamilton’s The annunciation

    Fanny Singer

    This article traces Richard Hamilton’s use of photography and digital technologies to subtly undermine verisimilitude in his print The annunciation 2005. Making numerous comparisons to Fra Angelico’s San Marco Annunciation, the work that inspired Hamilton’s print, the article aims to deconstruct the latter both technically and iconographically.

  •  
     

    On Hamilton with Hal Foster, Vicente Todoli and Mark Godfrey

    This discussion addresses Richard Hamilton’s entire career: his exhibition designs of the 1950s, his ‘pop’ period, his interests in design and politics, as well as his relationship to a variety of artists. Audio recording.

  •  
     

    Richard Hamilton, Politics and Art in the 1980s

    Mignon Nixon, Professor at the Courtauld, are in conversation with artist Jeremy Deller and journalist Robin Denselow, whose Newsnight film of IRA prisoners inspired Hamilton’s The citizen. Audio recording.

  • Artist

    Richard Hamilton

    1922–2011
  • Richard Hamilton at the ICA

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