Gilbert & George Online Viewing Room at Ben Brown Fine Arts

Ben Brown Fine Arts presents an online viewing room dedicated to Gilbert & George, tracing their career from the 1970s to 2009. The duo, who met in 1967 at Saint Martins School of Art in London, became known as "living sculptures" and pioneered "Art for All," breaking down elitist barriers. Their work spans performance, video, photography, drawing, and collage, addressing political, religious, and moral themes. The viewing room features rare pieces such as "Toast" (1973), exploring alcohol's role in their lives, and "Cock" (1977) from the "Dirty Word Pictures" series, which juxtaposes graffiti phrases with scenes of social unrest. The latter was first exhibited at Serpentine Galleries 25 years later. Works from the 1980s incorporate theatrical poses and vibrant colors, while the "Postcard Art" series, begun in the 1970s and reworked in 2009, includes "Mother" (1981) featuring royal family images, and "London Town" and "State Coach" (both 2009) assembled from postcards, flyers, and phone cards. The online viewing room is visible until September 25, 2020.