Pop Art from The 1960s
Pop Art emerged in Britain and the USA in the 1950s. It was a challenge to traditions of Fine Art by including imagery from popular and mass cultures, such as advertising and comic books. A good example of this is Andy Warhol’s early painting work for Campbell’s soup and Coca-Cola.
One of its aims is to use images of popular (as opposed to elitist) culture in art. In pop art, the material is sometimes visually removed from its known context, isolated, or combined with unrelated material.
Bee On Sea
Bee on Sea. Painting on canvas from the 1960s
Mosaic 2
Mosaic 2. AKA The Bull. Student work, early years 1960s
Untitled No 4
Untitled no 4. Acrylic painting on paper from the 1960s
Untitled 3
Untitled no 3. Acrylic painting on paper early days 1960s
Untitled No 2
Untitled no 2. Acrylic painting on paper from the mid 1960s
Last of 1968
Last of 1968. Acrylic Painting on canvas painted in Stroud in 1968
“The 1960s was an era of big thoughts. And yet, amazingly, each of these thoughts could fit on a T-shirt.”
1960s Pop Art By Doug Kemp
Pop art, widely interpreted as a reaction to ideas of abstract expressionism
Pop Art is widely interpreted as a reaction to the then dominant ideas of abstract expressionism, as well as an expansion of those ideas. Due to its utilisation of found objects and images, it is similar to Dada.
Pop Art and Minimalism are considered to be art movements that precede Postmodern Art or are some of the earliest examples of Postmodern Art themselves.
RAS
RAS. Acrylic painting on paper, 1960s pop art
Stroud Days No 2
Stroud Days no 2, 183 x 183 cm Acrylic painting on canvas mid-1960s
The Islands No 4
The Islands no 4. Acrylic painting on canvas 1960s pop art.
The Islands No 1
The Islands no 1. Acrylic painting on canvas mid 1960s. Exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts exhibition BIG PAINTINGS FOR PUBLIC PLACES, 6th to 28th September. 1969. Image in the catalogue shows a different piece.
The Islands No 2
The Islands no 2 . Acrylic pop-art abstract painting on paper mid 1960s.
The Islands No 3
The Islands No 3. Acrylic pop art abstract painting on canvas. Catalogue for the Royal Academy of Arts exhibition BIG PAINTINGS FOR PUBLIC PLACES, 6th to 28th September. 1969 shows an image of this piece but it was not the one actually exhibited.
Pop art, an acceptable pigeon hole for Doug Kemp’s work
Doug Kemp has described himself, slightly tongue in cheek, as a Pre Post Modernist and still maintains the term Pop Art is just an acceptable pigeonhole (actually stuffed with it by Luke) but not an all-encompassing description of his work. The 1970s is viewed as a warm-up for his Pop Art and Comic Book Plus style which later developed.
Many physical objects both in his possession and his memory often feature. These must be some of his favourite things, although it should be noted that he has not (yet?) made a portrait of Julie Andrews.
Murder In The Red Barn
Murder in the Red Barn. Acrylic painting on canvas from 1960s. Not actually inspired by the 1827 murder in Polstead, Suffolk and its connection with Ipswich. A bit even before Doug’s time, so can’t pin that one on him. The image was inspired, however, by the view that greeted him when in bed…. or even if he just looked up.
Minimalist No 1
Minimalist 1. Acrylic painting on paper Early Days 1960s pop art
Minimalist No 2. AKA Black Painting
Minimalist 1. Acrylic painting on canvas. From RA course show 1967 and Stroud. Early Days 1960s pop art.
Squares 1
Squares 1. Acrylic abstract pop art painting on canvas from the mid 1960s
Squares 2
Squares 2. Acrylic abstract pop art painting on canvas from the mid 1960s
Squares 3
Squares 3. Acrylic painting on canvas 1960s abstract collection
The Influence of Comic books In My work
Comic books have patently had a great influence on his work but with no direct, obvious, representation of a particular Super Hero or Villain character. Contrary to this, “real people” (including his alter ego) are often represented in comic book style.
Doug’s superpower may well be Rose Tinted Vision. Abstract and geometric patterns also regularly feature and therefore Pop Art is a rather small pigeon hole it is attempted to put him in.
Life Room
Life Room. Acrylic painting on canvas from the mid-1960s.
Magician On Sea
Magician on Sea. AKA Magician at Work. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1990s collection. Homage to the Wizard of Oz and his organ (with just a touch of Industrial) and to Botticelli.
Last Of The Stroud Days
Last of the Stroud Days. 1960s art collection acrylic popart painting on canvas
Last of 1968
Last of 1968. Acrylic painting on canvas Stroud days 1960s pop art collection
Grid
Grid. Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the late 1960s
Flash
Flash, Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the late 1960s
Boxes 1966 V1
Boxes 1966, V1. Acrylic painting 0n canvas from the 1960s pop art collection
Boxes 1966 V2
Boxes 1966, V2. Acrylic painting 0n canvas from the 1960s abstract art collection
Boxes 1966 V3
Boxes 1966, V3. Acrylic painting 0n canvas from the 1960s pop art collection
Boxes 1966 V4
Boxes 1966, V4. Acrylic painting 0n canvas from the 1960s pop art collection
Boxes 1966 V5
Boxes 1966, V5. Acrylic painting 0n canvas from the 1960s pop art collection
Summer Of 1965
Summer of 65. Acrylic painting 0n canvas from the 1960s pop art collection
Canvas Paintings Per Decades
“Canvas Paintings Per Decades” is a curated collection showcasing Doug Kemp’s acrylic paintings on canvas, organised by the decade of their creation. With a passion for art that spans several decades, Doug Kemp has established himself as a prominent artist with a diverse body of work.
Over the years, Doug’s artistic style evolved and matured. The paintings from the 2000s express his understanding of his chosen medium, as well as a heightened sense of creativity and expression. Through bold shapes, vibrant colours, and dynamic compositions, he invites viewers into his artistic viewpoint.
