1980s Pop Art By Doug Kemp Artist Collection

1980s Pop Art. Doug might describe this period as the ‘Bitty years’. Between divorces and the loss of a parent. A general economic recovery resulted in a lot of get-rich quick kids with a disposable income and some with a snobbish desire to own some “real” art.

A selection of milestone paintings from the 1980s. Art is subjective and these paintings have been selected as they either reflect points in Dougs life or the have had positive feedback.

Happy girl. Acrylic Painting On Paper from the 1980s collection, this female character appear in further works on canvas and as a Giclee print.

Happy girl Acrylic self-portrait pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s. This female character appears in both works on paper and as limited edition artist prints.

Man alone. Acrylic self-portrait pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s and Portraits collection

The sculpture. Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s collection of paintings.

Viewing domestic bliss. 152 x 162 cm Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s & divorce series of paintings.

The settee. Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s collection of paintings.

Demob Happy. Loughborough loose Acrylic Painting On Canvas from the late 1980s

Chicago Artist and Model. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s pop art collection.

Musica America. Acrylic painting on paper from the 1980s pop art collection. Classic advertisement style.

I, Wonder Woman. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s & Heroes pop art collection.

More Conflicts. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s & Divorce pop art collections.

During the 1980s I took an assignment at MJS International Gallery in Fort Worth, Texas, and produced a small series of paintings. Although a relatively short time was spent there on that occasion, the experience appeared to have had a disproportionate influence. Although, perhaps, it was just resurfacing and reinforcing earlier experiences.

Bigger and brighter fed Doug’s already primed fertile mind, because of so much more potential material being available. He also took a roll of paintings (on paper) over there with him and didn’t bring them home.

Fort Worth is a city in North Central Texas. In the late 19th century, it became an important trading post for cowboys at the end of the Chisholm Trail. Today, it’s a modern city, with international art institutions like the Kimbell Art Museum.

The Fort Worth Stockyards are home to rodeos, and the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame honours pioneers. Heee-Haaa!

Fort Worth days. 121 x 91 cm Acrylic painting on paper from the 1980s & Texas art collection

Fort Worth Cowboy. Acrylic painting on canvas commissioned in Fort Worth Texas in the 1980s.

Texas. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s collection.

Shopping in Fort Worth. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s collection.

A planned tour of the Chicago art scene in the late 1980s was cut short by a family bereavement, but other occasions provided stimulus from visits to the sites of modern real life legends and the sites of famous movie scenes also served to enhance the tableaus in the work, incorporating both real and imaginary.

Chicago has always been my favourite city in the United States of America. Its decor and history of real-life gangsters and movie characters are recalled but in vivid colours. For me it was a city where the sun always seemed to shine and didn’t suffer too much from the wind.

Chicago days, v1. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s collection.

The range of Doug’s work, within the current developing style, was now almost as varied as it was numerous.

Attempts to classify Doug’s pieces are like trying to herd eels – once it is felt that a labelling genre has been tied down, it slips away also to be included in another category as an overlap.

There appeared to be a move away from classic character influence to an expression of imagination in comic book form. The influence of physical objects and places come to the fore (and background!)

Study for Hi Joe Hi Mary. Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s, a precursor this painting was reproduced as a new improved version.

Who said that? Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s modern art collection.

What’s this thing? Acrylic painting on paper 1980s & Heroes Pop Art Collection.

Walk like an Egyptian. Acrylic painting on paper from the 1980s & Heroes pop art collection.

Rangoon Ice maidens. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s & Divorce pop art collections.

Hanging Joke. Acrylic pop-art painting on canvas from the 1980s. This painting left a number of galleries confused as Doug provided no information on how the painting should be hung.

A Madonna (ma-donna) has an obvious religious connection and is a representation of Mary, mother of Jesus in the Christian faith. A church icon and in paintings throughout history, the term has also become a byword for purity and even beauty.

Various depictions have appeared over time, often related to the current fashion.

Sea Madonna, v1. Believed to be 60 × 48 inches. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s.

Sea Madonna, v2. Believed to be 60 x 48 inches. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s. She’s lucky that the gull hasn’t stolen her kebab.

Sky Madonna. Unique monoprint from the early 1980s. Believed to be 30 x 32 inches,

Driving Madonna. 54x75cm Mono print from the 1990s

This collection has only a minor religious influence ( actually more of just an influence of historical religious art). Madonna here also appears to owe her identity partly to the comic character Lady Blackhawk and various war films and to the real, striking, fringe of an ex-art student and friend.

Betty Page also had a nice fringe. As is often the case, the works start to take on their own identity while still in production.

Dada was an art movement that developed in reaction to World War I, the Dada movement consisted of artists, writers, musicians and performers who rejected the logic, reason, and aestheticism of modern capitalist society.  Their works, express the nonsense, irrationality and opposition to what was happening in society in general.

Hans Richter, the acknowledged father of Dada, stated that Dada was not art: it was “anti-art.” Dada represents the opposite of everything which art stands for.

Where art was concerned with traditional aesthetics, Dada ignored aesthetics. If art was to appeal to sensibilities, Dada is intended to offend.

Dr M. Acrylic pop-art painting on canvas from the 1980s.

Night garage. Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s, Sitcom series of paintings.

Rah Rah Pom Pom Girl. 122 x 92 cm Acrylic pop art painting on paper from the 1980s modern art collection.

Office Days V1. 122 x 92 cm Acrylic pop art painting on paper from the 1980s modern art collection.

Office Days V2. 122 x 92 cm Acrylic pop art painting on paper from the 1980s modern art collection.

Not hiding. 122 x 92 cm Acrylic pop art painting on paper from the 1980s modern art collection.

Msic v2. AKA The office party. Reference Ms Icarus. Acrylic painting on paper from the 1980s art collection. Do you own Misic v1? Please contact us and let us know. We don’t have a digital copy of the artwork.

Introducing “Homage To Leger – Series of Paintings Referencing Fernand Leger’s Style”

In this captivating mini-series of artworks, artist Doug pays homage to one of his greatest inspirations, Fernand Leger.  Leger, a remarkable figure in the world of art, was a French painter, sculptor, and filmmaker who played a pivotal role in shaping the style of art known today as Pop Art.

His innovative approach and unique contributions earned him the distinction of being considered a trailblazer and the forerunner of this popular art movement.

Born in 1881 and passing away in 1955, Leger embarked on a creative journey that began with his development of a distinctive form of cubism known as “tubism.”

Transporting the forged Leger v1, Diptych with v2. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s & Forged Leger collections. Believed to be 72 x 60 inches

Leger’s Artistic Style

Over time, his artistic style evolved into a more figurative approach, influenced by Medieval and Renaissance painting. It is this shared love for the classical masters that connects Doug with Leger, as if they were passing the baton of inspiration from one generation to the next.

Within this series, one particular character from Leger’s painting “woman with a book” (painted in 1923) takes centre stage, serving as a direct reference point for Doug’s canvas paintings. Let’s explore some of the intriguing pieces in this collection:

Each painting in this mini-series contributes to a visual dialogue between Doug and Fernand Leger, demonstrating the enduring influence of Leger’s style on contemporary art. Through these vibrant works referencing Legers style, Doug Kemp pays tribute to his art hero

Transporting the forged Leger, v2 Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s & Forged Leger collections. Believed to be 72 x 60 inches

The Forger. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s & Forged Leger collections.

Forging Leger. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s & Forged Leger collections.

All that Jazz.45×50 inches Acrylic painting on canvas from the 2000s & Forged Leger collections.

The Pet – 61×61 cm Acrylic Pop art painting on paper from the 1990s “Forged Leger” artist collections.

Seeing The Light61×61 cm Acrylic Pop art painting on paper from the 1990s “Forged Leger” artist collections.

A rediscovery of works, the 1960s and 70s Pop Art, that had been long in storage, and even these monoprints from the 1980s.

These works were generally found to be pleasing and often charted the development of themes, which later went on to canvas, yet as individual pieces, these have withstood the test of time and now have injected new influence, some to be reworked and reproduced.

The Night Gallery. 61 x 51 cm pop art mono print from the 1980s

Art Lovers Critique. 61 x 51 cm pop art mono print from the 1980s

The Artist’s Lover. 61 x 51 cm pop art mono print from the 1980s

Blond. (Original Miami Si). – 61 x 51 cm pop art mono print from the 1980s

Snake in a Hat. 61 x 51 cm pop art mono print from the 1980s

Unlike most printmaking where a set of multiple images within a series can be reproduced, the monoprint is a process of creating a unique print that can be made only once. To quote the line… “There can be only one!”

Full House. 61 x 51 cm pop art mono print from the 1980s

Feel safe when with You. 61 x 51 cm pop art mono print from the 1980s

Art on her mind. 61 x 51 cm pop art mono print from the 1980s

Early sitcom. 61 x 51 cm pop art mono print from the 1980s

Dreaming of a Soldier. 61 x 51 cm pop art mono print from the 1990s

Industrial still life paintings on paper from the 1980s. “Up the workers” had other, sad, connotations at the time. Although not intended as a political comment there may have been a subconscious influence (as many influences on Doug actually appear to be) by the current industrial relations of the time.

Doug worked in a few factories in the very early days, with pin-up girls on the walls in juxtaposition with heavy machinery.

The emergence could also be, of course, just have been the effect of country life and a passing craving for the city or maybe even a celebration of getting away from it?! Spot the other pieces throughout this site have the occasional Industrial touch.

Industrial still life v1. Acrylic painting on paper from the 1980s

Industrial still life v2. Acrylic painting on paper from the 1980s Glamorous pin-up girl in juxtaposition on factory wall.

The puzzle. 122 x 114 cm Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s

The art lovers. 183 x 138 cm Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s part of the art lovers mini collection.

Rose tinted glasses. 183 x 153 cm Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s.

The Pentaptych show, Glasgow. Set of five Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the late 1980s. Amusingly, Doug’s in-joke here is that he did not specify in which order the gallery should hang this series.

Ladies day. 127 x 101 Acrylic abstract pop-art painting on canvas from the 1980s.

LOC (Liberation of colour). Acrylic abstract pop-art painting on canvas from the 1980s.

Jukebox days. Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s & Dancing times art collection.

The 1980s saw the first set of semi dressed female form paintings, with Lucy and Little Egypt.

Lucy. 114 x 122cm Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s collection of paintings. * Giclee update

Little Egypt. 114 x 122cm Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s collection of paintings.

Ladies day. 127 x 102 cm Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s collection of paintings.

Zip. 182 x 138 cm Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s collection of paintings.

Torpedo Jacks. Acrylic pop-art painting on canvas from the 1980s. This character appears in multiple works & formats but was able to afford a few different suits..