Hello, my friends. What are you up to? If you have nothing planned in your diary for this weekend or next week, you should go visit Pick Me Up, Graphic Arts Festival at Somerset House.Open now to the public, I had the opportunity to go and see it.
What can I say about Pick Me Up? I love it! Not very surprising, yes? Of course if you are budding art students, designers, illustrators, you would love this exhibition. To be honest, I think every year, they continue to make the Graphic Arts Festival seems to be better than the last. I am really interested at how artists take ownership at curating their own space. It makes such a change to the traditional norm of gallery curation. Which is one of the reasons I go to Pick Me Up; the layout and space attract visitors, allows interactivity and engagement with the artist and the art.
Here are some of the personal highlights of the festival.
There are familiar favourites like Handsome Frank, Unlimited, Brothers of the Stripes, Hero of Switzerland.As well as seeing all the prints and products on offer. What impresses me is the calibre of interactive free workshops: (A chance to see illustrator hard at work)
You have Jason Brooks of “Hed Kandi Record” covers doing live fashion illustrations, Gemma Correll is doing Pug Party Selfies, yes Please!, Paul Blow’sAbsurdities workshop and many more.
Finally Judith Kerr of the famous “The Tiger who Came to Tea” is the guest of honour off 4 May hosting a conversation and a look at her literary legacy and a preview of her new picture book coming out later this year. Now that will be incredibly popular and limited numbers of tickets are available.
Design your own record sleeves as a celebration to World Record Day, Pick Me Up has its own radio station and DJ presented by Comms Bureau. This makes a welcome change from the printmaking.
Pick Me Up Selects
I love the details on Thibaud’s work. It reminds me of Paul Noble work at Turner Prize, the amount of care, planning and work into each sheets of paper. Draughtsmanship is evident, you have to look closer to truly appreciate it
Unlimited7
Outline Artists
Animaux Circus Collective
Hero of Switzerland
Brothers of the Stripes offering customised Lino prints you can choose yourself!
I adore her work and I am a fan of her comics. Previous winner of the Jonathan Cape Short Graphic Story prize for “Love in a Cold Climate”
I just love the simplicity and the structure of her curated space. I had the pleasure of meeting her and telling her personally I much I like her work.
Cats! Cute graphic cats, what is not to love. I love the yellow frame that complements and shows off her work so well. This wall is an immediate eye candy.
There is something about Annu’s limited colour palette and use of contrasting patterns. It is seamless, abstract and mesmerizing. I salute.
There’s something so charming and playful about Billy’s work. I adore the wooden dinosaur-looking toy. When I look at his work, it just makes it smile and brings about a skip in my step.
Lynnie Zulu
Lynnie’s work is so fresh! There is so much energy, pizzazz and sunny, what we have been lacking in British Spring Time. Her work speaks for itself. I have been using fluorescent colours lately, it is refreshing to see it used and added to other color combinations.
I hope the photos wets your appetite. Now put this in your diary and enjoy!
It’s on until 5th May, Open daily from 10am – 6pm. Late night opening on Thursdays and Fridays until 10pm. Admission fee from £10, concessions available.
More information about the programmes and workshops, click here
