Pick Me Up Exhibition 2016 Highlights and {Closed} ticket Giveaway!

Hello my friends!
Pick Me Up exhibition returns again to Somerset House, and every year I have seen the curatorial transformation and upcoming artists and designers flourish from it. This year’s focus is on traditional processes in printmaking and letterpress with the world renowned designer: Alan Kitching. I will share with you personal highlights of the exhibition, and also, I got an exciting giveaway for you all – stayed tuned!

This year’s Pick Me Up exhibition focuses is on the pioneers of Design. showcasing graphic art, letterforms, 3D Installations, ceramics, and stationery. There are plenty of opportunities to try your hand at any workshops to create your own piece; whether it be ceramics, screen-printing, letterpress cards, and bookbinding. Even though I love traditional techniques of painting, drawing, and processes; I certainly appreciate and love good design. I studied at Shillington College and it opened my eyes about good design principles. In knowing that, it has strengthened the way I present my illustrations.

This is a monochromatic and minimalistic curatorial approach to the exhibition, I think you need to spend more time in the exhibition to truly appreciate the work that goes into it.

You are greeted with this year’s Pick Me Up selects. My personal favourites are Dutch Illustrator Aart-Jan Venema whose crowd detailed illustrations based on African sub-culture and Tourism, bold black brush strokes of Alice Bowsher, Corin Kennington’s combination of traditional signwriting and digital elements, and Jack Sach’s motion graphics and stills of the human body, Charlotte Mei’s humorous and quirky pop culture ceramics. This year, past and present Selects will set up a miniature studio on site where they will create new work live each day of the festival that will be available for purchase.

A Life in Letterpress: Alan Kitching retrospective exhibition

A Life in Letterpress: Alan Kitching retrospective exhibition on the ground floor gallery, en route from the Collective and Galleries. The exhibition will feature over 100 prints, many of which will be for sale, charting his career from his apprenticeship to world-renowned designer. Alan will also bring his letterpress on selected days and will use it to create a utopian-themed print-series over the course of the festival. On 27th April, Alan Kitching will appear in conversation with selected special guests to discuss his life and career as an industry leader.

Collectives, Galleries, and Studios

Upstairs on the Mezzanine level are the Collectives, Galleries, and Studios, creating a unique space to showcase complete projects and range of limited edition prints available to purchase.

To name a few, I’ve enjoyed the pastel colours and positivity beaming from Niki Best gallery, Made North showing works of Anthony Burrill and widely recognisable work of Margaret Calvert British Road Sign prints from their Anniversary Project, and Beach London new project celebrating the weird and wonderful folk traditions of Brtish culture that continues today. I had seen Hato Press go from strength to strength, it’s a delight to see them play a bigger role in the exhibition design and curation. They will be onsite printing and selling zines, booklets and prints with their beloved risograph printer.

Since 2015, BBC show ‘The Great Pottery Throw Down’ there is an emersion of freestyle and illustrated ceramics – could this be a growing trend for next year? Clay Collective consists of illustrators and designers based in East London creating functional and decorative ceramic products with that illustrated flair. They are also holding introductory workshops throughout the festival so you can try it for yourself – pre-booking is highly advised. You can book on this website here.

[contestfriend contest=”5411″]

In summary,  

Who is this Exhibition for? 
- Graphic Design Students 
- Graphic Designers 
- Designers 
- Typographers 
- Visual artists 
- Lovers of Printmaking

Ticket Information

Dates: 21 April 2 May 2016 | Open: Daily 10am-6pm, late night Wednesdays & Thursdays until 9pm

Embankment Galleries, Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA

Admission: £10, concessions £8, Festival pass £17.50

For further information, please click here to go to the Official website.

This is not a paid post whatsoever. I am not being paid writing this review nor for hosting the giveaway. This giveaway is an opportunity for someone to experience the exhibition. Art is accessible for all.