See Albert Irvin’s colourful legacy at 45 Park Lane. This show covers his abstract expressionist work from the 1970s to late career prints.
45 Park Lane, a prestigious London venue, is set to host a remarkable exhibition honouring the life and works of Albert Irvin OBE RA HRWA, a pioneering English Abstract Expressionist artist.
The exhibition, titled ‘Albert Irvin OBE RA: Autographic Marks’, opens on 6 September 2024, offering art enthusiasts a unique opportunity to explore Irvin’s extraordinary artistic journey.
A Collaboration of Artistic Minds
The Irvin Estate has curated this show in conjunction with art consultants Ackerman Studios and Donald Smith. This partnership brings together a career spanning several decades of artistic innovation.
The exhibition showcases key pieces from Irvin’s oeuvre, with a particular focus on his work from the early 1970s. This period was pivotal in Irvin’s artistic development and had a profound impact on the British art scene of that era and beyond.
Visitors will have the chance to witness Irvin’s signature style, characterised by large-scale canvases featuring vibrant colours and energetic mark-making.
A Journey Through Albert Irvin’s Artistic Evolution
The curators have chosen works that show Irvin’s range and development. As well as the big iconic pieces there are gentle watercolours from the 1970s to contrast with the more energetic works. A piece from the 1990s described as ‘stunning in size and significance’ gives a glimpse into Irvin’s mid-career.
The exhibition culminates with a display of Irvin’s later works, featuring joyful, vibrant acrylics and technically complex, colourful original prints. These pieces, created in the last decade of his life, serve as a testament to Irvin’s enduring creativity and innovation.
The Artist’s Philosophy: Autographic Marks
Central to the exhibition is Irvin’s concept of ‘autographic marks’. The artist himself explained this philosophy, stating, “By using the autographic mark I want to sign, ‘I have done this’. It’s important that the mark on the canvas is the mark I’ve made. It’s why I don’t use an assistant. The marks accrue like entries in a diary and say, ‘Where were you at 10.30?’ and answer ‘I was down here.’ ‘And at 4.30?’, ‘I was up here’, and so on. The marks are the verbs of the language and communicate action. But they carry imports too. They are like pockets of experience.”
This unique approach to painting reflects Irvin’s dedication to personal expression and his belief in the importance of the artist’s direct involvement in every aspect of the creative process.
From War to Canvas: Irvin’s Artistic Journey
Albert Irvin’s route to becoming an artist was not conventional. He started his artistic education at Northampton School of Art from 1940 to 1941 but his studies were interrupted by World War II. Irvin was a navigator in the Royal Air Force, an experience that would have a big impact on his artistic outlook.
After the war Irvin continued his studies at Goldsmiths College where he would later become a tutor from 1962 to 1983. This was the start of a long teaching career that would take him to art schools all over the UK and abroad.
Influences and Inspirations
The 1950s proved to be a formative period for Irvin. During this time, he encountered and was greatly influenced by many artists based in Cornwall, some of whom were part of the renowned St Ives School.
Notable figures such as Peter Lanyon, Roger Hilton, Terry Frost, and Sandra Blow played a significant role in shaping Irvin’s artistic voice and distinctive ‘mark’.
Irvin’s wartime experiences as an RAF navigator left an indelible mark on his artistic style. His paintings often mirror grid formations, geometric patterns, and fluid lines reminiscent of the aerial views he encountered during his flights.
This unique perspective contributed to the distinctive illusion of depth and pictorial space that characterises much of his work.
Other notable influences on Irvin’s art included Walter Sickert, Henri Matisse, and his beloved J.M.W. Turner. These diverse inspirations coalesced to form Irvin’s unique artistic vision, blending abstract expressionism with a distinctly British sensibility.
Collaborative Spirit: Irvin and Advanced Graphics
While Irvin was primarily known for his solo work in his East End painting studio, he also engaged in fruitful collaborations throughout his career. From 1980 until the end of his life, Irvin regularly worked with Advanced Graphics, a print studio located south of the River Thames.
These collaborations resulted in over seventy print projects, many of which were titled to reflect the areas and streets surrounding the print studios. This geographical connection underscores Irvin’s deep engagement with his urban environment and its influence on his work.
It’s important to note that these prints, while produced in multiples, were original works in their own right. Conceived as stand-alone projects, they showcase Irvin’s mastery of the printmaking medium. The prints feature distinct treatment of background and foreground, with Irvin’s signature marks and gestural brush strokes layered atop rich worlds of colour and texture.
A Family Legacy
The exhibition at 45 Park Lane holds special significance for Irvin’s family. His daughters, Celia and Priscilla of the Irvin Estate, shared their thoughts on the event: “The proposal for a show at 45 Park Lane was originally put to us by artist and friend, Donald Smith who had always admired Bert and his work.
When we visited the hotel, we felt it would be a fabulous opportunity to show his work in a less formal gallery space. It is an intimate, yet grand setting, and fully able to uphold the physical presence of the larger canvases and the dynamic energy of the smaller works.
When we met Lily Ackerman we found her enthusiasm for the work and her passion for putting on the show infectious and knew instantly that Dad would have loved her and been excited to work with her.”
This personal connection adds an extra layer of meaning to the exhibition, offering visitors a glimpse into the artist’s life through the eyes of those who knew him best.
A Quintessential London Artist
René Gimpel, Irvin’s longtime gallerist, offers insight into the artist’s deep connection to London: “Albert Irvin is the quintessential London artist or artist tout court. Yet his practice is steeped in the urban milieu in which he lived, worked and socialised. Abstract paintings, but abstractions of London’s geographical streets which rooted his work to the capital.
There is no obvious link between a street title given to a painting and its representation in the painted image; no, Bert’s references are cyphers to his overall practice.
Taking their cue in part from Charles Beaudelaire’s observers (flâneurs) of urban life, the Situationists devised the concept of drifting through the city and in so doing, reformulating both it and our place in it. This is what Bert achieved.
Contemplating his finely constructed, arresting paintings, we are invited to recalibrate our locus; that is to say that our presence-to-self is now inflected by the artist’s presence-to-us through his canvases – they linger!”
This commentary highlights the profound impact of London’s urban landscape on Irvin’s work and his ability to translate the city’s essence into abstract form.
Enduring Influence and Legacy
Albert Irvin’s influence extends far beyond the canvas, reaching into various creative industries and inspiring younger generations of artists. A notable example of his enduring legacy is the 2018 collaboration between the Irvin Estate and fashion designer Henry Holland.
This project honoured Irvin’s exuberant graphics, painterly hues, and distinctive brushstrokes by incorporating them into unique minidresses, suits, and knits for Holland’s Resort Collection.
In a touching tribute to Albert Irvin’s artistic practice, Holland chose to photograph the pieces in Irvin’s long-standing studio in Stepney Green, London. This studio, which Irvin moved into in 1971, played a crucial role in his artistic development and was part of a broader initiative to provide affordable studio spaces for artists in London.
Irvin’s connection to this studio space dates back to his involvement with SPACE (Space Provision Artistic Cultural Education), an organisation founded by his close friends and fellow artists Bridget Riley and Peter Sedgley in 1968.
Inspired by similar initiatives in New York, SPACE aimed to address the need for affordable artist studios in London. This movement led to the conversion of numerous buildings across the city into creative spaces, with Irvin eventually purchasing his studio,a converted high-ceilinged schoolroom with excellent natural light,in 1985.
Recognition and Accolades
Throughout his career, Albert Irvin received numerous accolades recognising his significant contributions to the art world.
In 1975, he was awarded a major Arts Council Award, followed by a Gulbenkian Award for printmaking in 1983.
His election as a Royal Academician in 1998 further cemented his status as one of Britain’s most respected abstract artists.
A Global Presence
Albert Irvin’s work has been exhibited extensively, both in the UK and internationally. His paintings and prints have graced the walls of prestigious institutions such as Tate, the Royal Academy of Arts, Hayward Gallery, Serpentine, and Whitechapel in London.
Beyond the capital, his work has been showcased in major city art galleries across the UK, including Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Manchester.
Internationally, Irvin’s art has found appreciation in venues such as the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin, Coventry Gallery in Sydney, Australia, Gimpel & Weitzenhoffer in New York, Centre D’Art in Meymac, France, and various galleries in Berlin, Frankfurt, and Cologne.
A Lasting Legacy
Albert Irvin’s work continues to be celebrated and preserved in numerous public collections. These include the Arts Council of Great Britain, Birmingham City Art Gallery, the Chase Manhattan Bank, the Contemporary Art Society, Manchester City Art Gallery, Tate Britain, the Royal Academy of Arts, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and Warwick University Arts Centre.
The upcoming exhibition at 45 Park Lane offers a unique opportunity for art enthusiasts, scholars, and the general public to engage with the vibrant, energetic works of Albert Irvin. By showcasing his artistic evolution and enduring influence, the exhibition serves as a fitting tribute to one of Britain’s most innovative and respected abstract expressionists.
As visitors explore ‘Albert Irvin OBE RA: Autographic Marks’, they will not only witness the remarkable career of a singular artist but also gain insight into a pivotal period in British art history. The exhibition promises to be a celebration of colour, movement, and the enduring power of abstract expression.
