Mind the Gap

 Mind the Gap: Inspiring art, design and cartography is a new exhibition opening at the London Transport Museum on Friday 18 May looking at the history and creativity of London transport maps.  

The exhibition is said to be the largest of it's kind and will not only showcase historic maps from the museums vast collection, but also new works by artists Simon Patterson, Stephen Walter (see his 'Map of Subterranean London' below), Susan Stockwell, Jeremy Wood, Claire Brewster, and Agnes Poitevin-Navarre.

"The displays will explore geographical, diagrammatic and decorative transport maps, as well as the influence of the iconic London Tube map on cartography, art and the public imagination. The Underground, London Transport, and its successor Transport for London, have produced outstanding maps for over 100 years. These have not only shaped the city, they have inspired the world."

Mind the Gap will run until 28 October 2012, so there's plenty of time to see it, however if don't get chance to see it in person there is an accompanying book published by Lund Humphries, 'London Underground Maps: Inspiring Art, Design and Cartography'.


Images copyright London Transport Museum and Stephen Walter respectively. 

You Are Here - UK Lance Wyman Exhibition

Huge thanks to Finola Gaynor for letting us know about You Are Here: Works by the legendary American graphic designer Lance Wyman at the Norwich University College of Arts - yes, finally a Lance Wyman exhibition in the UK!

Finola curated the exhibition which will be showing, "some of Wyman's most notable graphic design and wayfinding projects along with other rare and celebrated works such as Mexico's first commemorative stamp" until 9 June 2012.

My favourite two pieces of his work are in the exhibition; the best ever Olympic poster (above) and elements from his US National Zoo signage that we posted about here, so I really can't wait to see it. I feel a road rip coming on!

The Gallery at NUCA is open to the public Tuesday too Saturday, 12 to 5pm and admission is free.

Image copyright Lance Wyman.

Phil Ashcroft

These dramatically bold paintings are the wonderful work of London based artist and designer, Phil Ashcroft.

His graphic landscapes have a dark, mysterious feel, "combining influences from abstract expressionism, British landscape painting, Japanese woodcuts, and graphic street art, Ashcroft integrates varied visual styles to generate a crossover between space, object and environment."

I love the way he plays with scale in his paintings, incorporating the tiny buildings really exaggerates the drama and impact of the full image.

Mr Ashcroft has had many, many exhibitions over the years from solo exhibitions in Liberty London, and (an old favourite for me) Arc-Arts, Manchester to group exhibitions in the Tate Modern and The Barbican. Some of you may have seen his work earlier this month at Pick Me Up 2012 as part of Nelly Duff's pop-up zoo.

You can see more of Phil Ashcroft's work here and keep up-to-date with his recent goings on here.

All images copyright Phil Ashcroft.
Via But Does it Float.

Blisters - The Directors Cut

The lovely people at Print Club are now accepting submissions for Blisters - The Directors Cut, their 'big end of Summer hand pulled screenprinted poster show'.

As usual the 40 pieces selected from 40 artists will be from a range of 'established and emerging illustrators, designers and street artists', in editions of 40 and sold for £40!

Anyone can enter and the deadline for entries is Sunday 10 June 2012.

For those interested, here's the brief:

Submit an alternative movie poster in your own style inspired by your favorite film! 

The catch is, you cannot use the title of the film at all.

Use of other text is allowed of course but it should stand alone as an image, scene or typographic piece, it doesn’t have to be an advertisement for the film!

Poster size B2 (700x500mm) and to be screenprinted!

More information here.

American Sampler - The Art of Corita Kent

American Sampler - The Art of Corita Kent is boxed 40 page booklet (14.8 x 21cm) and 6 limited edition prints (50 x 70cm) showcasing the beautifully bold and bright work of Corita Kent (formerly Sister Mary Corita Kent) that we posted about here.

This is the second large-scale publication from 50by70 created by designer Tim Fishlock to celebrate the work of wonderful artists and designers. It's only an edition of 350, so if you want one you better by sharpish!

Images copyright 50by70.
Via CR Blog.

Hand-letterpressed Chrsitmas cards!

Our hand-letterpressed Christmas cards are now available in packs of 10 with envelopes on Etsy. Choose from 'Mince Pies', 'Holly' and 'Christmas Pudding' designs.

Each design was created using vintage woodblock letters and hand-printed on a vintage press with our own fair hands making every card unique!

Warhol is Here

Entrance to the first floor gallery, sneaking a peek at Camoflage, 1986

Butterfly Day, 1955

Brillo, 1970 and Muhammad Ali by Andy Warhol poster, 1978

Andy Warhol designed posters and commercial work

Dollar sign, 1981 and Cow, 1966

The De La Warr Pavilion is always a great weekend drive out - it's an amazing building, there's always an interesting exhibition on and the cafe has such delicious cake, what's not to like?! But until 26 February 2012 there's an added bonus to taking a trip out there...


Warhol is Here, the best collection of Andy Warhol work I've ever seen in one place. I've read a lot about this exhibition over the last month, but I was still amazed by it's size and content. There are some of Warhol's most iconic pieces in little old Bexhill, pieces I've discussed and written about in many art history lectures and essays so to see them in all their enourmity was a real treat.

The ground floor gallery guides you through the main part of his career from early pan & ink illustrations, through his commercial works, self-portraits, photography and on to some of his most famous 60's and 70's pieces; the wonderful Marilyn Diptych (1962), all ten Mao (1972) screenprints, the Brillo Boxes (1968), two prints from the Campbell's Soup series (Green Pea & Tomato, both 1968) and a selection of the Electric Chair series.

The First floor gallery, papered floor to ceiling in the bright pink & yellow cow print, focusses on Warhol's later 80's work including one of my favourite pieces - the giant bold and brash Dollar Sign (1981).

And for those with enough energy to make it to the rooftop foyer, there's a sound installation by Dr. Jean Wainwright to accompany the exhibition. Tape recordings of interviews, stories and conversations about Andy Warhol with those that knew him well.

I can't recommend this exhibition enough, it's exhibition of the year for me and to top it all, it's free admission!

"The show is assembled from a selection of works from ARTIST ROOMS, (a new collection of modern and contemporary art held by Tate and National Galleries of Scotland for the nation), as well as those sourced from Tate collection, The British Museum, V&A, Cecil Higgins Art Gallery other private collections."

All works copyright of The Andy Warhol Foundation for The Visual Arts, Artists Rights Society (ARS, New York/DACS London