An exhibition celebrating the life and work of Glynn Boyd Harte; artist,author, illustrator and traveller as well as being "one of the most curious and flamboyant characters on the London social scene," (Telegraph 2003).
10 years since his death Curwen Gallery is holding a retrospective of his remaining works, taken from the personal collection of his widow, Carrie Boyd Harte.
The exhibition contains a wide selection of works from many different periods of the artist's life.Many recall periods of spent abroad, such as the vivid illustrations from his much celebrated book Mr Harte's Holiday, represented in the exhibition by
Villa Les Flots (above) and
Boite aux Lettre as well as many other works.Other pieces, such as the wonderful
Salmon(below- a gallery favourite and one of the first to sell) and
Le Bain Marie, were produced as commercial illustrations for papers and advertisements.
Many of Boyd Harte's most interesting works celebrate particular times and places in the artists life, conjuring up an idea of a traditional Parisian cafe breakfast or the view of a favourite Fitzrovia shopfront.It is this effortless capturing of a moment which distinguishes him from his many imitators.His choice of scene is so often unconventional, as can be seen in
L'Aquarelle (below) or
Five Chairs, yet at the same time so appropriate to his subject.
Also on sale are two of his exceptionally rare artists books,
Temples of Power (a study of the architecture of London Power stations) and
Souvenier of Metroland (produced with the poet,John Betjeman).Many of his classic lithographs are also included in the exhibition,
Champagne and
Sardines, two immensely successful prints which are now very hard to get hold of.
Glynn Boyd Harte was born in Lancashire in 1948 and graduated from the Royal College of Art in 1973. He was also an accomplished pianist and composer and was locally famous for his flamboyant clothing and lavish fancy dress parties.He was master of the Art Workers Guild in 1995 and had regular solo exhibitions at Francis Kyle Gallery and Curwen Gallery as well as various galleries in Paris and New York. He travelled extensively, from St. Petersburg to San Francisco, with frequent stays painting in Paris. Glynn divided his time between his homes in Fitzrovia, London and Normandy, France.He died at the age of 55 on 16th December 2003, mid-way through his solo exhibition "Apples and Artichokes" at Curwen Gallery.
For more information on the exhibition see the gallery
website for an online catalogue of the exhibition.
The exhibition contains a wide selection of works from many different periods of the artist's life.Many recall periods of spent abroad, such as the vivid illustrations from his much celebrated book Mr Harte's Holiday, represented in the exhibition by Villa Les Flots (above) and Boite aux Lettre as well as many other works.Other pieces, such as the wonderful Salmon(below- a gallery favourite and one of the first to sell) and Le Bain Marie, were produced as commercial illustrations for papers and advertisements.
Many of Boyd Harte's most interesting works celebrate particular times and places in the artists life, conjuring up an idea of a traditional Parisian cafe breakfast or the view of a favourite Fitzrovia shopfront.It is this effortless capturing of a moment which distinguishes him from his many imitators.His choice of scene is so often unconventional, as can be seen in L'Aquarelle (below) or Five Chairs, yet at the same time so appropriate to his subject.
Also on sale are two of his exceptionally rare artists books, Temples of Power (a study of the architecture of London Power stations) and Souvenier of Metroland (produced with the poet,John Betjeman).Many of his classic lithographs are also included in the exhibition, Champagne and Sardines, two immensely successful prints which are now very hard to get hold of.
Glynn Boyd Harte was born in Lancashire in 1948 and graduated from the Royal College of Art in 1973. He was also an accomplished pianist and composer and was locally famous for his flamboyant clothing and lavish fancy dress parties.He was master of the Art Workers Guild in 1995 and had regular solo exhibitions at Francis Kyle Gallery and Curwen Gallery as well as various galleries in Paris and New York. He travelled extensively, from St. Petersburg to San Francisco, with frequent stays painting in Paris. Glynn divided his time between his homes in Fitzrovia, London and Normandy, France.He died at the age of 55 on 16th December 2003, mid-way through his solo exhibition "Apples and Artichokes" at Curwen Gallery.
For more information on the exhibition see the gallery website for an online catalogue of the exhibition.
I was an illustration student at Maidstone College of Art and Desgin back in the 80s - Gerald Rose was our department head and invited Glynn to tutor a project.
ReplyDeleteI remember him with his country tweed jacket and red beard and leather brogues and thought back then
very stylish - a stark contrast as we as students were all Mark almond and should pads! He spoke about Beidermeier furniture which he said his family were connected with. He was top of our list for illustrators. I am lucky enough to have bought a set of original prints he was commissioned to do for a car dealership.