Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol was a master of celebrity cult. From 1962, portraits played a major role in

his oeuvre, even though he was not a portraitist in the traditional sense of the word.

After Marilyn Monroe took her life on 5th August 1962, a sensation industry set about

creating her apotheosis. Warhol played an artistic part in this process in his own way. He

had just begun experimenting with photographs of film stars when the news of

Marilyn’s death broke. Now he produced memorial pictures with iconic status. We also

have access to Golden limited edition sets and a flower and soup can series.

The screen prints are handmade and printed on hard paper with the highest quality

archival inks, using the same techniques as the original prints by Andy Warhol and the

Factory in the late 1960’s. This makes a wonderful opportunity of to buy something that

is regarded as one of the ‘Art-Masterpieces of the 20th Century’.

Each screen print comes with a certificate of authenticity and are featured in the Andy

Warhol Catalogue Raisonne.

Marilyn Monroe limited edition screen print 36”x36”

Marilyn Monroe limited edition screen print 36”x36”

Golden Marilyn 36”x36”

Golden Marilyn 36”x36”

Flower Series 36”x36”

Flower Series 36”x36”

Soup cans series

Gallery shot

Blek Le Rat (1952)

Blek Le Rat is considered the Godfather and originator of Street Art.

Influenced originally by the early graffiti art in New York after a visit in 1971, he

continued to choose a style that was more suited to Paris due to the differing

architecture. He started painting stencils of rats on the street walls of Paris, describing

the rat as the ‘only free animal in the city’ and ‘one that spreads the plague everywhere

first like street art’.

French authorities soon discovered Blek’s identity in 1991 when he was arrested whilst

stenciling a replica of Caravaggio’s ‘Madonna and child’.

There are of course comparisons to the infamous Banksy. An article in the Sunday times

actually described Blek as ‘the man who gave birth to Banksy’. Both artists are playful in

their technique and concept, however Blek is more surreal and a little less focused on

social commentary. He attempts to transcend the grittiness of an urban setting and

instill a sense of the fantastical.

Banksy later acknowledged Blek’s influence on him by stating “Everytime I think I’ve

painted something slightly original, I find that Blek has done it as well twenty years

earlier”.

In October 2006, Blek Le Rat had his first solo show in the U.K at Leonard St. Gallery in

London. His American Gallery debut took place at Subliminal Projects Gallery in Los

Angeles. Blek has hugely influenced today’s’ graffiti and guerilla art and, predicts a major

art revolution in the next twenty years. He states:

“The street art movement started 40 years ago in the USA, but we are still only at the

beginning. Artists will find new ways to display and sell work that will have nothing to do

with investment and galleries. Until then, I’ll keep working, but only on public walls. I’m

too old for illegal ones.”

His Masters Voiceless (Red) 2008 74x72.5cm

Russell Harris: Pop art

Inspired by the father of spin-art, Eugene R. Pera (the first known professional artist to

use the technique), and more recently Damien Hirst, Russell decided the time was right

to let out his inner Jackson Pollock!

After months of trial and error Russell has perfected a technique that enables him to

spin large (up to 2mx2m) deep-framed canvases at varying speeds, whilst creating his

works of art using household gloss. Using classic album tracks by the likes of Pink Floyd,

Led Zeppelin and The Beatles as a theme, Russell has produced a large body of pop art

from his small studio in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. The results have been well

received by the art community and Russell is now selling his paintings, both online and

through various city-centre galleries.

Each unique painting is signed. Some have been spun as part of a series, whilst others

are meant for individual display.

Russell Harris is also an award winning producer, television presenter for BBC 2 and

Channel 4 and also a very successful designer and renovator. His passions and interests

are evidently varied.

The Difference between me and you is that I’m not on fire.