Kim Mannes-Abbott's Four Decades of Digital Art Head to British Art Fair at Saatchi Gallery
Kim Mannes-Abbott, a trailblazer in digital art, will showcase a solo exhibition at Spotlight: Digitalism during the British Art Fair, held at Saatchi Gallery from September 24 to 27, 2026. This exhibition spans her creations from the mid-1980s to the present, highlighting pieces made with the Quantel Paintbox and her recent works from An Ordinary Life. Mannes-Abbott began using the Quantel Video Paintbox in 1984, a tool that debuted in 1981 at a cost of $250,000. She played a significant role in launching MTV Europe in 1987 and partnered with photographers Inez & Vinoodh during the 1990s. Many of her early pieces are being rediscovered, reflecting the distinctive visual style influenced by the technology of the time. She remains active in producing digital art that connects with modern technology.
Key facts
- Kim Mannes-Abbott will have a solo presentation in Spotlight: Digitalism at the British Art Fair at Saatchi Gallery from 24 to 27 September 2026.
- The exhibition covers work from the mid-1980s to the present, including Quantel Paintbox works, commercial collaborations, and recent work from An Ordinary Life.
- Mannes-Abbott first encountered the Quantel Video Paintbox in 1984 while studying graphic design.
- Quantel launched the Paintbox in 1981 at $250,000 per unit, initially used mainly by major broadcasters before being made available to British art colleges.
- She became an early adopter, using a pressure-sensitive pen and tablet, and embraced glitches and limitations due to no undo function.
- By 1987, she worked on the launch of MTV Europe, creating logos, bumpers, and animation.
- In the 1990s, she collaborated with photographers Inez & Vinoodh, manipulating their photography on the Quantel Graphic Paintbox for The Face.
- Many early works are now available as limited-edition, museum-quality prints, and she continues to create new work with a working Paintbox in her Amsterdam studio.
Entities
Artists
- Kim Mannes-Abbott
- Inez & Vinoodh
- Hans Peterson
- Mirjam Jeurissen
Institutions
- Saatchi Gallery
- British Art Fair
- Quantel
- MTV Europe
- The Face
- Artlyst
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands
Sources
- Artlyst —