Richard Hamilton

Beginning on July 27 and until October 13 of 2014, the Museo Nacional Reina Sofía will hold the most comprehensive retrospective ever organized of British painter Richard Hamilton. This exhibition was initially conceived for the MNCARS by the artist himself, who was directly involved in its organization during the early part of 2010 and until his death, in September 2011. This retrospective by Richard Hamilton (London, 1922–2011), regarded as one of the pioneers of Pop Art, will include over 250 works created by the artist between 1949 and 2010. The works reflect his interest in mass culture and graphic design, expressed in a wide range of mediums: painting, photography, drawings, engraving, replicas and works created through the experimentation with digital images and collaborations with other artists; works that show the diverse themes approached by Hamilton throughout his career, such as still life, landscape, interiors, historic painting, political propaganda, portraiture, figuration, religious iconography, and the appropriation of elements from popular culture and the history of art. The diversity found in Richard Hamilton's oeuvre—as well as the heterogeneous but coherent nature of his proposals—showcases their relevance and influence in the world of contemporary art. Hamilton created a bridge between the modern and postmodern eras that led to the recognition he received, not solely as one of the founders of Pop Art, but also as a precursor of appropriationism, installation and other artistic currents that were created later on. On the occasion of this important exhibition, the Museo Reina Sofía has published a catalog that reproduces the works exhibited, with writings by Benjamin H.D. Buchloh, Hal Foster, Mark Godfrey, Richard Hamilton, Alice Rawsthorn, Paul Schimmel, Fanny Singer and Victoria Walsh. Organization: Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía Curatorship: Vicente Todolí and Paul Schimmel Date: June 27 – October 13, 2014 Venue: Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía Sabatini Building, 3rd Floor