· Pop-up galleries with a mix of new work and classic favourites to take place in cities with vibrant music scenes and strong cultural heritage.
· Pop-ups galleries in Brighton (14-18 June), Birmingham (4-7 July) and Nottingham (24-27 July).
· Pete McKee announces ‘Council Skies’, a new book exploring his career throughout the years, with many works previously unseen by the public.
Artist Pete McKee to open three distinctive pop-up galleries in cities throughout the UK in which he has never presented work in before.
The tour stops-off in Brighton (14-18 June), Birmingham (4-7 July) and Nottingham (24-27 July). The pop-ups combine a mixture of classic and new work, including images designed especially for each location reflecting each cities’ vibrancy and heritage.
Pete McKee is an internationally-renowned artist whose inimitable style and sense of humour has earned legions of fans the world over, working with some of the biggest names in music and fashion. The pop-up galleries are an exciting opportunity to see a selection of Pete’s work, selected for these events, showcasing the diversity of his witty and charming images.
The tour coincides with the release of Pete’s new book, ‘Council Skies’, a collection of his work over the last 15 years, from his early sketch work right through to images from his most recent exhibitions. It features a foreword from award-winning social affairs writer and author of Austerity Bites: A journey to the sharp end of cuts in the UK, Mary O’Hara, and an introduction from Dr Susan McPherson, lecturer in Sociology at Sheffield Hallam University.
The book will be released on June 14th, available to buy across all McKee platforms including the first pop-up shop in Brighton.
Pete is signing books at each of the pop-ups – Brighton: 4pm – 6pm Saturday 15th June, Birmingham: 4pm – 6pm Saturday 6th July, Nottingham: 4pm – 6pm Saturday 27th July.
Pete McKee explains why Brighton, Birmingham and Nottingham were chosen as locations for the upcoming pop-up galleries:
“Anyone who has flirted with the concept of modernism as I did as a teenager in the late 70s, can’t help but fall in love with Brighton and the role it played in our cultural imagination. When you walk down the sea front you get a sense of the history that it holds and its representation in cult films like Quadrophenia. Brighton is home to some amazing artists and art institutions too so I can’t wait to bring my work there.”
“Birmingham and its people are born of hard graft and pride. Its foundations are built on industry and revolution, much like my home town. It has been exciting seeing the city evolve and change over the years with more and more creative spaces popping up. I particularly love the street art dotted about the city.”
“I love visiting Nottingham, the home to my favourite comic book shop, Page 45, and my favourite record shop, Rough Trade. In my youth a trip to Nottingham was essential to pick up some vintage clobber from the great retro shops. In short Nottingham is a fantastic place to shop.”
These pop-ups follow Pete’s biggest show to date, ‘This Class Works’ exhibited in 2018. Over 10,000 visitors came to this sell out exhibition, lasting just over two weeks at an old spring factory in Pete’s hometown of Sheffield. The exhibition showcased Pete’s work and the work of several other artists. It explored and celebrated working class culture and people, examining their pride and resourcefulness, work ethic and sense of community, and set out to share that spirit with today’s aspirational younger generation.