Peter Blake Biography
Sir Peter Blake studied at the Gravesend School of Art before attending the Royal College of Art. During Blake’s long career, he has exhibited extensively and has explored various styles and subjects, focusing primarily on themes of idolatry and stardom. In the 1950s he travelled across Europe and studied folk art, which informed a change in style, from classical naturalistic oil paintings to collages containing movie stars, musicians, and pin up girls. In 1969, Blake moved to Somerset and became a founding member of the Brotherhood of Ruralists. This group of artists moved away from both urban life and the ‘new media’ of the 1960s and 1970s, opting instead for traditional skills like painting.
Deemed ‘The Godfather of Pop Art,’ Blake has created a diverse range of collages with various subject matters in popular culture such as film star posters, badges, and postcards. The artist cleverly blends modernity with our society’s infatuation with celebrity cult status and nostalgia. Blake was awarded the title of Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) before receiving a Knighthood in 2002 for his services to the visual arts. In addition to this great honour, he has received the Leverhulme Research Award and the John Moores Junior Award.
