Peter Blake's Iconic 1961 'Self Portrait With Badges' Released as Exclusive Screenprint at Opus Art

June 20, 2007, Press Dispensary. Opus Art, Newcastle, today launches an exclusive new screenprint by the godfather of British pop art, Sir Peter Blake. ‘Self Portrait With Badges’ is an exquisite 25-colour screenprint taken from his 1961 painting of the same name. Limited to just 150 signed and numbered copies, this image has never before been available in print form.

This screenprint is available to buy through www.opus-art.com, costing £1,200. Emma Poole, Opus’ sales director, said: "We're honoured to offer this incredibly iconic work by the legendary Peter Blake. We had a great response to Peter’s ‘Fag Packets’ prints but to have a print of a 1961 self-portrait is a real coup."

The original ‘Self Portrait With Badges’ won Blake the John Moore’s junior award in 1961. The painting is currently held in the Tate Collection, and was shown at Tate Britain in 2004 as part of its Art & the 60s’ exhibition. The canvass appeared in Ken Russell's seminal film, 'Pop Goes the Easel', shown by the BBC in 1962, and was featured in the Sunday Times’ first ever colour supplement.

This work is a parody of Thomas Gainsborough’s 'The Blue Boy', with Blake replacing the blue silk of Gainsborough’s version with blue denim. Blake is reinforcing his passion for the American culture with details such as the Converse baseball boots and the Elvis Presley magazine in his left hand. The painting is acutely nostalgic as a portrait of the moment when American pop exploded in British imaginations.

Peter Blake is often described as the "godfather of British pop art". He studied at the Royal College of Art, London, alongside fellow leaders of the pop art movement, David Hockney and R B Kitaj. Blake was made a Royal Academician in 1981 and was knighted in 2002. Perhaps his most famous work is his iconic design for the cover of The Beatles' 'Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band'. Blake also created artwork for Band Aid's 'Do They Know Its Christmas?', Paul Weller's 'Stanley Road' and Oasis’ 'Stop The Clocks'.

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Notes for editors
Opus Art showcases limited edition contemporary and modern prints, photography and originals by established and emerging artists, including Damien Hirst, Peter Blake and Helmut Newton. Its gallery is at 16 Shakespeare Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6AQ, UK.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT
Emma Poole, Opus Art Ltd
Tel: 0191 242 8061 / 07908 787 195
Email:
Site: www.opus-art.com