Richard Hamilton

One of the most influential British artists of the twentieth century, Richard Hamilton (1922-2011) is widely regarded as a founding figure of pop art, who continued to experiment and innovate over a career of sixty years. This publication presents the first retrospective to encompass the full scope of Hamilton’s work, from his early exhibition designs of the 1950s to his final paintings of 2011, exploring his relationship to design, painting, photography and television, as well as his engagement and collaborations with other artists. Hamilton is best known for his pivotal role in the birth of pop art, including the groundbreaking installation Fun House from 1956, an immersive room combining images from movie posters, magazines and art history. The chronological progres-sion leads to seminal works such as the era-defining Just what is it that makes today’s homes so different, so appealing?, the depiction of Mick Jagger in the iconic series Swingeing London 67, as well as images of other celebrities such as Bing Crosby and Marilyn Monroe. The book will also showcase the wider contemporary issues and political subjects in Hamilton’s work, including the Kent State shootings and the IRA ‘dirty protests’, as well as figures like Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair in such works as Treatment Room 1984 and Shock and Awe 2010.