Colin Self's First London Retrospective in Four Decades Opens at Frith Street Gallery
At Frith Street Gallery, an exhibition titled 'Colin Self: Unseen' showcases the work of 85-year-old pop artist Colin Self, marking his first London retrospective since 1986. Running until 7 November 2026 and curated by Ian Collins, the display combines both new and previously unseen pieces, emphasizing Self's ability to navigate contrasting themes. Tacita Dean highlights his radical appreciation for vernacular art. Among the notable works is '365: A journey in that direction', featuring 20 x 20 cm canvases representing each day of the year with varied subjects and materials. Dean characterizes Self as a master illusionist, while the gallery frames his art as 'humane optimism in the face of oblivion.' This exhibition is included in Paul Carey-Kent's FAD column.
Key facts
- Colin Self's first London retrospective since 1986 is titled 'Colin Self: Unseen' at Frith Street Gallery.
- The exhibition runs until 7 November 2026 and is curated by Ian Collins.
- Self is 85 years old and became known in the sixties as a pop artist addressing the nuclear threat.
- The new work '365: A journey in that direction' consists of enough 20 x 20 cm canvases for every day of a year.
- Materials in '365' include shells, bottle tops, a bath plug, denim jeans, and ceramic birds.
- Subjects include Norfolk nature, spider web paintings, a face made of liquorice allsorts, and a 'Shamocracy' line of ten canvases.
- Tacita Dean wrote the accompanying essay, comparing a biscuit packet image to the Mona Lisa.
- The gallery describes the work as showing 'humane optimism in the face of oblivion'.
Entities
Artists
- Colin Self
- Tacita Dean
- Paul Carey-Kent
- Ian Collins
Institutions
- Frith Street Gallery
- FAD
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Norfolk