Sir Peter Blake celebrates his 80th birthday at the Royal Albert Hall
12 June, 2012
SIR PETER BLAKE CELEBRATES 80TH BIRTHDAY AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL
World-renowned artist and creator of iconic album covers showcases retrospective at UK charity and iconic venue
Peter Blake At 80
Tuesday 19 June – Sunday 8 July
Royal Albert Hall
London, 12 June 2012: The Royal Albert Hall continues its successful series of reflect events with a retrospective of the work of Sir Peter Blake, creator of the Sgt. Pepper album cover for the Beatles, in celebration of his 80th birthday.
Renowned for his connection with the music industry, Blake is a true grandee of British art. The Peter Blake At 80 exhibition will showcase iconic album covers for The Beatles, Paul Weller, The Who and Oasis, alongside other Blake works, which reflect a fascination with all streams of popular culture and the beauty to be found in everyday objects and surroundings.
The Hall has partnered with CCA Galleries to create the exhibition, which will run from 19 June - 8 July. The showcase is free for the public and will be displayed in the Royal Albert Hall’s Ground Floor Corridor.
Sir Peter Blake comments, “I am delighted to be hosting this exhibition at the Royal Albert Hall in celebration of my 80th birthday. Having worked on the artwork for some of the most talented musicians during my career it now seems only fitting that this milestone exhibition is being held at the one of the world’s greatest music venues. I hope people enjoy this print retrospective as much as I have”
Jasper Hope, Chief Operating Officer at the Hall commented: “The Royal Albert Hall complements the work of Sir Peter Blake perfectly; both have long been iconic in British culture and both continue to develop new ideas and set trends as a consequence. As we continue our commitment to increasing public access to the arts, it’s a great honour for us to be able to host such a body of work and to be able to offer it to our audience free of charge.”
The Royal Albert Hall reflect series is one of the many initiatives highlighting the iconic venue’s public benefit as a charity providing accessibility to the arts and sciences.
The exhibition is free and runs from Tuesday 19 June– Sunday 8 July around the Ground Floor Corridor of the Royal Albert Hall. It can be viewed when attending performances at the Hall or during these free open days:
Saturday 23 June, 9am – 12noon
Sunday 24 June, 9am – 12noon
Saturday 30 June, 10am – 3pm
Sunday 1 July, 10am – 3pm
As part of the exhibition, the Hall will also welcome the CCA Art Bus. A mobile work of art by Sir Peter Blake, it is designed in a pop art style that serves as a mobile art gallery. The bus will be parked on the South Steps of the Royal Albert Hall on the exhibition’s open days, as well as on Wednesday 20 June for an open day ‘taster’ from 10am-5pm.
ENDS
For more information, interviews, images please contact:
Hannah Hayes 020 7861 3162 / hhayes@goodrelations.co.uk
Nicola Hamilton 020 7861 3189 / nhamilton@goodrelations.co.uk
For the Royal Albert Hall please contact:
Sean Carrigan 020 7959 0531/ seanc@royalalberthall.com
For details of all the works on show and print editions by Peter Blake, please contact CCA Galleries:
01252 7097201 www.ccagalleries.com
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is the world’s most famous stage. Its breath-taking auditorium hosts over 370 shows a year by the world’s greatest artists. The magical atmosphere combined with inspired artists creates legendary events. Opened in 1871 as part of Prince Albert’s vision for a centre for the Arts and Sciences, and a registered charity operating without public funding, it remains true to his founding ambitions within a modern context.
Extending the brand with over 120 events outside the auditorium, the Hall has broadened its appeal to younger, diverse audiences whilst still engaging its existing customers. It actively works as an arts promoter and engages with partners to ensure that the events and performances inside its building create a platform offering access, education and opportunity in the arts. It works extensively with schools and young people through its Education programme, reaching over 30,000 participants each year.
For more information please visit www.royalalberthall.com
Registered charity no: 254543