Before Banksy, before ROA, before Blek le Rat, street corners in early 1980s Manhattan became a canvas for ‘shadowmen’, distinctive figures on walls and alleyways. They were the work of Richard Hambleton, who many consider the first street artist. Hambleton died in 2017 of cancer. The first major retrospective of his work since his death will take place from September 13-15 at London’s Leake Street Arches, vaults underneath Waterloo station. On September 18, an exhibition of limited edition prints will also open at the Maddox Gallery in Westbourne Grove. Before Banksy, before ROA, before Bl k le Rat, street corner in early 1980s Manhattan became a canvas for ‘shadowmen’, distinctive figures on walls and alleyways. They were the work of Richard Hambleton, who many consider the first street artist. Andy Valmorbida, a leading collector, became interested in Hambleton’s work in the early 2000s. The choice of London as a venue for the retrospective was deliberate. Banksy is so big we wanted to show London where it all started,’ he says. ‘Banksy ripped off Blek the Rat, and Blek le Rat cites Hambleton as his inspiration. Hambleton was such a pioneer. His gesture and brushstroke is so strong.’ Born in 1952, Hambleton’s training was traditional, firstly at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver, followed by the San Francisco Art Institute. His first works - under the pseudonym Mr Ree - were responses to the high crime rates in North American cities in the 1970s. Working at night, he drew fake police chalk outlines on pavements with a splash of red blood to make it look like a crime scene. His ‘Mass Murder’ series brought him early acclaim. In the 1980s, Hambleton moved to New York and developed his shadowmen, especially on the Lower East Side. He became a leading member of a group of artists that included Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat; the latter first became known by tagging on Hambleton’s work. Recognition followed; Hambleton exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 1984, collaborated with Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren and created works on both sides of the Berlin wall as well as Paris, where Blek le Rat first became aware of his work. In the 1980s, Hambleton moved to New York and developed his shadowmen, especially on the Lower East Side. He became a leading member of a group of artists that included Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat; the latter first became known by tagging on Hambleton’s work. Recognition followed; Hambleton exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 1984, collaborated with Vivienn Westwood and Malcolm McLar n and created works on both sides of the Berlin Wall as well as Paris, where Blek le Rat first became aware of his work. Few works if any works remain in situ today, according to Valmorbida. One of the last in New York, on the West Side Highway was only demolished last year, although photographer Hank O’Neal catalogued many of them. As his street art disappeared with New York’s gentrification, Hambleton faded from sight. Descending into drug addiction, he moved towards landscapes, the ‘Beautiful Paintings’ and obscurity. Interest only really revived in 2011 after Giorgio Armani, another collector, sponsored an exhibition. Few works if any remain in situ today, according to Valmorbida. One of the last in New York, on the West Side Highway was only demolished last year, although photographer Hank O’Neal catalogued many of them. rt is r ith New York’s gentrification, Hambleton f fr si t. esc i into drug a diction, he moved towards landscapes, the ‘Beautiful Paintings’ and obscurity. Interest only really revived in 2011 after Giorgio Armani, another collector, sponsored an exhibition. RICHARD HAMBLETON AND ANDY VALMORBIDA: THE ARTIST, THE COLLECTOR AND THE RETROSPECTIVE By Sarah Turner Published: April 23, 2018 li : ril 018 Hambleton died in 2017 of cancer. The first major retrospective of his work since his de th will take place from S ptember 13-15 t London’s Lea e Stre t Arches, vaults underneath Waterlo st tion. O September 18, an exhibition of limited edition prints will also open at the Maddox Gallery in Westbourne Grove. Andy Valmorbida, a leading collector, became interested in Hambleton’s work in the early 2000s. The choice of London as a venue for the retrospective was deliber te. ‘Banksy is so big we wanted to show London where it all started,’ he says. ‘Banksy ripped off Blek le Rat, and Blek le Rat cites Hambleton as his inspiration. Hambleton was such a pioneer. His gesture and brushstroke is so strong.’ Born in 1952, Hambleton’s tra ning was traditional, firstly a the Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Van ouver, followed by the San Francisco Art Institute. His first works - under the pseudonym Mr Ree - were responses to the high crime rates in North American cities in the 1970s. Working at night, he drew fake police chalk outlines on pavements with a splash of red blood to make it look like a crime scene. His ‘Mass Murd r’ series brought him early acclaim.
New York, NY
Oct 31, 2017–Apr 8, 2018
CLUB 57 FILM, PERFORMANCE, AND ART IN THE EAST VILLAGE. 1978–1983 ,
FEATURING RICHARD HAMBLETON.
Club 57: Film, Performance, andArt in the East Village, 1978–1983 is the first major exhibition to fully examine the scene-changing, interdisciplinary life of this seminal downtown New York alternative space. The exhibition will tap into the legacy of Club 57’s founding curatorial staff—film programmers Susan Hannaford and Tom Scully, exhibition organizer Keith Haring, and performance curator Ann Magnuson—to examine how the convergence of film, video, performance, art, and curatorship in the club environment of New York in the 1970s and 1980s became a model for a new spirit of interdisciplinary endeavor. Responding to the broad range of programming at Club 57, the exhibition will present their accomplishments across a range of disciplines—from film, video, performance, and theater to photography, painting, drawing, printmaking, collage, zines, fashion design, and curating. Building on extensive research and oral history, the exhibition features many works that have not been exhibited publicly since the 1980s. LUB 57: FILM, PERFORMANCE, AND ART IN THE EAST VILLAGE , 1978–1983 is the first major exhibition to fully examine the scene-changing, interdisciplinary life of this seminal downtown New York alternative space. The exhibition will tap into the legacy of Club 57’s founding curatorial staff— film programmers Susan Hannaford and Tom Scully, exhibition organizer Keith Haring, and performance curator Ann Magnuson—to examine how the convergence of film, video, performance, art, and cur torship in the club environment New York in the 1970s and 1980s became a model for a new spirit of interdisciplinary endeavour. Responding to the br ad range of programming at Club 57, the exhibition will present their accomplishments across a range of disciplines—from film, video, performance, and theatre to photography, painting, drawing, printmaking, collage, zines, fashion design, and curating. Building on extensive research and oral history, the exhibiti n features ma y works that have not been exhibited publicly since the 1980s. Credit: moma.org
Becoming an early collector wasn’t easy. Valmorbida had to work hard to gain Hambleton’s trust: ‘He wasn’t trying to be a commercial artist, he was a real artist. He wouldn’t let me buy works, he didn’t want to talk to the press. I turned up three times with a film crew from CNN and three times he sent us away.’ After this exhibition, there are talks about a museum retrospective but it’s difficult, according to Valmorbida. ‘Works are so rare, few collectors want to lend them. The market’s gone through the roof.’ After this exhibition, there are talks about a useu retrospective but it’s difficult, according to Valmorbida. ‘Works are so rare, few collectors want to lend them. The market’s gone through the roof.’ Becoming an early collector wasn’t easy. Valmorbida had to work hard to gain Hambleton’s trust: ‘He wasn’t trying to be a commercial artist, he was a real artist. He wouldn’t let me buy works, he didn’t want to talk to the press. I turned up three ti s it l r fr three times he sent us a y.’
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