Head of Prints & Multiples Carly Shearer takes us through The London Portfolio - discussing the project, themes and contributing artists.
‘The London Portfolio’ was conceived by Charles Booth-Clibborn and published under his imprint, The Paragon Press, London. In 1991 he invited a group of artists to contribute to this project; all were gaining recognition in the artworld at the time and based in London, hence the title. There was no overarching theme offered, just the practical considerations that each work must be within a standard size (76cm x 89cm) and two-dimensional. The majority of artists submitted screenprint designs and some common themes emerged – body parts, advertising visuals, appropriated imagery, urban locations and contemporary design. The resulting series of prints were published in 1992, and the final presentation was intended to operate as a portable exhibition – a surprisingly easy way of engaging with the cutting-edge of contemporary art at that moment.
A further set of fifteen, apart from edition of 65, were produced for artists and collaborators. The work was conceived as a portable exhibition. Proceeds from the sale of this portfolio will go to The Ragdoll Foundation, supporting their grant-giving programme for young people and the arts.
Lyon & Turnbull are delighted to offer Modern and Contemporary editioned prints and multiples within our Contemporary & Post-War Art and MODERN MADE auctions.
At Lyon & Turnbull, we handle prints from a wide variety of artists: from 20th century masters Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and Joan Miro through to the British canon of printmakers including Dame Laura Knight, L.S. Lowry, Edward Bawden, all the way to David Hockney and Howard Hodgkin. Our auctions encompass printmaking created up to and including the present day, with artists currently working in these mediums, such as Tracey Emin, David Shrigley, Banksy and the Connor Brothers.