Internationally renowned artist and beloved illustrator, Quentin Blake, is bringing his brand-new and never-before-seen exhibition ‘NOW‘ to the capital city next week. This will be Blake’s first commercial exhibition in decades and will showcase a selection of his work from the past 12 months.
Described as his most exciting exhibition ever, the event will be a rare opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with Blake’s work and perhaps even take a piece home with you, as everything on show will also be for sale.
Opening on January 31 at Cromwell Place, the exhibition will include pen-and-ink drawings in Blake’s inimitable, instantly recognisable style – some of which were recently shown at Hastings Contemporary Gallery. Also featured will be some more experimental pieces, showcasing Blake’s recent explorations in different formats and mediums.
Quentin Blake said in a statement: “None of the drawings in this show existed a year ago, they’ve all been produced in recent months. Some represent a return to what has always been my favourite medium which is a scratchy pen and bottle of ink. It was a pleasure to make use of that tenuous line in inventing a sequence of bearded sages and vultures inhabiting lofty structures and then let my fantasy loose on a series of drawings of les velos tout terrain (bicycles) of my own inventing, set against sombre skies and craggy landscapes”.
Perhaps best known for being the iconic illustrator of Roald Dahl’s books; the work on display will appeal to a more adult audience than the work that made him one of the best-loved illustrators of all time – but will still be full of movement, humour, and pathos. Would we expect anything less, though?
CEO and Artistic Director of Cromwell Place, Helen Nisbet, said, “We are honoured to be hosting ‘Quentin Blake NOW’ in our galleries. Blake is an iconic figure whose work reaches far beyond the canon of illustration and we’re excited to host these works which show a lesser-known side to his work”.
The exhibition will be running from January 31 – February 18. It is free to enter but booking is encouraged. Find out more and book your tickets here.
📍 4 Cromwell Place, SW7 2JE
