The Dotmaster’s tribute to Warhol, now on display in the town centre
Thirty years after the death of Andy Warhol, and Croydon is the venue for an exhibition devoted to the artist’s work and influence.
Visitors on one of the first tours for Warhol Croydon around the town centre
There’s a gallery exhibition, artworks on display dotted around the town centre, film and documentary screenings at the David Lean Cinema, plus talks from international speakers and guided tours – and it is all free.
Organised by the Rise Gallery on St George’s Walk, Warhol Croydon also includes a host of family-friendly activities planned with support from the local community for each week of the event, appealing to all ages. The event has Croydon Council and Croydon Business Improvement District as sponsors.
Kevin Zuchowski-Morrison, the Rise Gallery founder, said, “Few names in the world of art are more evocative than that of Andy Warhol, who continues to attract record-breaking numbers of visitors to exhibitions of his work around the world.
The Rise Gallery is the centre of the exhibition
“Warhol’s work has attracted huge numbers of people to exhibitions in Sydney, Liverpool and Hull, this year’s UK City of Culture, and we are hosting the only UK event marking the 30th anniversary of his passing.”
Zuchowski-Morrison says that he believes displaying tributes by some of the highest-profile modern artists throughout the town will further enhance the reputation of the borough.
Warhol Croydon, which runs for the whole of September, features on public display some giant-sized pieces by artists including Ron English, Dan Cimmermann and The Dotmaster.
The homages to Warhol from 12 artists will be exhibited at prominent locations. The giant artworks, which will also be lit up at night, are the centrepiece of the ground-breaking programme.
Ron English is one of the dozen artists contributing their homage to Warhol
English is, according to the Gallery, “one of the most prolific and recognisable artists alive today. He has bombed the global landscape with unforgettable images, on the street, in museums, in films, books and television. His work coined the term POPagana, a fusion of superheroes, comic strips and art history, populated with his original characters including Abraham Obama”.
Cimmermann said: “For me, personally, Warhol has been a major inspiration and influence on not just my work but many other artists across the world, crossing boundaries between graphic design and fine art. We all have our favourites but for me the stand out piece, as a mad Rolling Stones fan, has to be Mick Jagger – it personifies cool.
“To be part of Warhol Croydon is unreal. Croydon has really opened up to art and culture and is offering people like me the freedom to express myself in a way artists could only dream of. In today’s money-driven market, Croydon, Rise Gallery and all those working on this project need saluting.”
For timings and full details of events in Warhol Croydon, visit the website here.
And post your comments below of what you have seen of Warhol Croydon.
Inside Croydon is a member of the Independent Community News Network- Inside Croydon is the borough’s only independent news source, and still based in the heart of Croydon
- In the five months from April to August 2017, Inside Croydon generated more than 500,000 page views
- If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, a residents’ or business association or a local event to publicise, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com
