This week artist and designer Paul Mulgrew explores the bold and colourful Pop Art movement! This workshop is part of our series of online workshops exploring important techniques in the history of contemporary art, supported by Halifax Foundation NI.
The Pop Art movement is very important in the story of contemporary art, and the cultural and social revolution that began in Britain and in America in the 1950s. This was a time of turbulence, experimentation, and increased consumerism that a new generation of artists wanted to reflect and to connect with.
Pop Art pioneer Richard Hamilton said “Pop art is: Popular (designed for a mass audience), Transient (short-term solution), Expendable (easily forgotten), Low cost, Mass produced, Young (aimed at youth), Witty, Sexy, Gimmicky, Glamorous, Big business.”
One thing that most works of Pop Art share is COLOUR! Artists like Roy Lichtenstein were inspired by comic books and cartoons, Nicola L was inspired by plastic, and others like Andy Warhol were inspired by celebrities and even canned food!
Artists often reproduced their own versions of labels and designs used on mass produced items like soap powder or soup – things you might see everyday in your home or in a shop, and would recognise immediately.
With youth and energy, Pop Artists challenged the whole idea of what art could be.
In this video workshop Paul Mulgrew will tell you more about the Pop Art movement and show you how to create your own!
What you’ll need:
- Sheet of white paper
- Tin of food (ask an adult to help you choose one!)
- Pencil and Eraser
- Black marker and some coloured ones
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Piece of string or ribbon
- Glue or Sellotape
