Posts by Alex Yellop

In the span of his sadly short career and life, Keith Haring’s prolific output forever changed the direction of street art and pop culture. Haring's distinct style was alien from the prevailing styles of the time and was inspired by a variety of artistic sources (mainly contemporary and outsider art) all the while rooted in the backdrop of hip hop and counterculture that washed the streets. Influenced by the art of his father who used to draw comic strips, the beatniks and, later, the use of psychedelic drugs, Haring's pictorial language was replete with influences of central American, African and Oceanic cultures. What’s more, Haring’s style allowed him to transcend ego and the self, unlike tagging which is inherently egoistic and focused on the individual executing the work. It is not only in his works that Haring influenced the artworld but his very approach to distributing his pieces and with this in mind, we look into the history of Haring’s pop shops. 

"Bad artists imitate, great artists steal”. Banksy. Picasso. The line between homage and a copy is never easy to define. Often blurred, sometimes thick, an artist using imagery and motifs created by another can often cause great debate. Whilst it is true that lineage and influences can be traced and that the complex web that interconnects the  history of art, and by extension, the artworks contained within form an intriguing map that takes us from prehistoric cave paintings to NFTs. In today’s article, we look at how Banksy pays homage to three of our most favourite artists and repurposes and reuses their famous motifs in his own works.

Inspired by a recent trip to New York, the Andipa Editions team felt a renewed interest and appreciation for the works of Keith Haring. Whilst not hailing from New York City, his life and works are most commonly associated with the Big Apple, and what could be more New York than looking at his subway drawings.

Andipa were recently in New York City for the launch of the latest leg of the critically acclaimed Banksy exhibition ‘Castles in the Sky’. Following on from previous locations which were curated by Andipa, we took the decision to step back as the esteemed location, 250 Bowery, the former International Center of Photography, is not an academic venue. However, all original paintings and sculptures were kindly loaned by collectors of Andipa. In between meetings with other galleries and museums, our team had the opportunity to explore the Lower East Side taking in the phenomenal array of street art. In our article, we look into the history of the area and share some of our favourite works.

Nations and its people often draw from shared images, motifs and institutions to sculpt and create our national identities. Indeed, a person's national identity results directly from the presence of elements from the "common points" in people's daily lives: national symbols, languages, colours, nation's history, shared culture and so on. In today’s blog, we look at how Banksy questions perhaps one of the most important symbols in Britain: The Royals through three works.

The sacred role of the artist in society can take on many forms as they seek to express, critique and question what we as a society value and, as a result, they turn the microscope from the collective to the individual causing us to question even ourselves. For millennia, artists have inhabited a special space that places them above the society, and by extension, rules that we have accepted. In today’s article, we look at how the world’s most in-demand artist Banksy takes this concept of the artist as the interrogator of society’s values and apply that to how authority is questioned through six of his seminal works.

War, sadly, is a fact of life. Whilst humans have evolved and living standards across the world have generally improved, war seems to be a constant inalienable part of human existence. Even in the 21st century our bellicose nature never appears to be too far away from the surface and ready to erupt in death and destruction. Indeed, war has been a subject for artists throughout recorded history and the present is no exception. In today’s article we explore war as told through five seminal works by Banksy. 

15 minutes of fame is surely fleeting enough. Or is it? In today’s article we explore and review both the latest Andy Warhol Netflix documentary series and the hit West End play ‘The Collaboration”.

Along with butterflies and skulls, spots are synonymous with Damien Hirst. Iconic and instantly recognisable, Hirst’s spot works pop directly at the viewer with colours that leap and fade from the prints. In today’s blog, and to celebrate the availability of Hirst’s 12 Woodcut series at Andipa Editions, we look into Hirst and his spot works.

Love is in the air as couples across the world celebrate their relationship and their love. Indeed, February the 14th is Valentine’s Day and to honour the occasion, we look into a recurring theme within Banksy’s prolific and seminal output: Love.

Banksy was back in the headlines recently with a big result on a small scale. Following on from his Great British Spraycation adventures of last year one of the stellar new street works he produced recently sold at auction for more than £1m GBP.

It is no secret that politics influences our lives. Crafting the fabric that we live in, politics and its influence on our immediate, daily experiences and the world around us cannot be understated. Artists, never impervious to such influences, can enter into a discourse with politics and bring such discourse to life through their works. In today’s blog we examine two  famous prints by Andy Warhol in regards to the politics of his era.

Andy Warhol’s exploration of both consumerism and its power are evident both across his works and in his modus operandi. Repetition, a central tenet to his printmaking mastery, throws daily motifs, logos, faces and people in front of the camera as Warhol becomes, not only the creator of the works, but the subject too.  From Campbell's Soup cans to Marilyn Monroe, Chanel perfume bottles (No. 5 of course) to Chairman Mao,  a journey through Warhol's prints is as much a journey through the icons of the 20th century as they are a celebration.

Welcome to the first blog of the New Year where we reflect on the first major auction that has taken place in January with strong sales showing a buoyant start. Taking place at Phillips London between the 19-20 January 2022 Evening & Day Editions showcased a plethora of artists who are household names.

The festive season is fast approaching and with it we rewind the clock at Andipa Editions and look to the past at a series of Banksy exhibitions that helped to cement him as Britain’s most prominent street artist. Taking place yearly between 2002-2007, Santa’s Ghetto was a pop up concept store that appeared in various locations across London. Organised by Pictures on Walls, the yearly show was a group exhibition featuring artists represented by the esteemed publishers. Showcasing editions, originals and sculptures notable artists included Jamie Hewlett, Mode 2, Space Invader and, of course, Banksy.

The world’s most in-demand artist was once again back in the headlines as Banksy offered to raise millions of pounds towards the purchasing of Reading Prison, where Oscar Wilde was once held, to turn the location into an arts venue.

In today’s blog, we speak with gallery Director Acoris Andipa about his three favourite Banksy prints and why these are a must have for collectors.

As an artist, Banksy effortlessly employs many pop-culture references in his work. Recognisable to many, the artist simultaneously creates both familiar and unfamiliar motifs that straddle the boundary between the uncanny identifiable and the alien. In today’s blog, we explore the use of the acid house smiley face in three of his iconic works.  

A symbol for the acid house generation, the motif  was originally designed in the 60s as a logo for an insurance company. Hijacked briefly by American counterculture in the 70s the bright yellow face crashed back into popular consciousness with acid house in the late 80s.

What do Toronto based rapper Drake and the enfant terrible of British art, Damien Hirst, have in common? Aside from both critical and commercial success in their respective fields the pair have recently unveiled a collaboration which saw Hirst create the cover art for the rapper’s latest album Certified Lover Boy.

It is no secret that the Banksy market has been an interesting one to observe both from near and far. The popularity of the artist whose impact on both his genre, the art world and wider society continues to grow and his influence and demand for his works show no signs of abating.

Andipa are delighted to announce the launch of our new temporary website dedicated to original works by the world’s most influential and sought after artists. On the new website, Director Acoris Andipa says, “Throughout our 54 years of history in our knightsbridge townhouse we have often reinvented ourselves. We are doing so once again. To be announced in the coming months.”

The great British Summer. One of those mythical promises that seem to come true once every few years. With travel restrictions still in place as the United Kingdom slowly moves out of lockdown and to a welcome sense of normality, Brits have been urged to look towards home and take their summer breaks closer to home than usual. The world’s most popular artist too has embraced this concept with recent works appealing across East Anglian coastal towns.

Art and artists inhabit an unusual space within society and wider culture. Taking up seemingly diametric positions of challenging and questioning our world whilst simultaneously drawing from it, this hallowed position allows for ideas and concepts to flourish and grow. In the modern world with our 24 hour news and swipe left/right lifestyle the importance of challenging and commenting on what surrounds us is more important than ever. Banksy effortlessly and thoughtful picks up the mantle of what it means to be an artist with his intelligent, poignant and witty commentary on 21st century life. One such subject that recurs within his cannon is that of consumerism. Indeed, one would be hard pressed to think of the artist without his approach to the divisive subject. In today’s blog, we examine three iconic works by the elusive street artist seeking to understand the artist’s views and portrayal of consumerism and how these works fit into his wider narrative.

This week (25th of June 2021) has seen the world’s most popular artist lose two more trademarks in his iconic portfolio. Experts have suggested that Banksy will no longer be able to claim legal rights to his artwork following the latest ruling which means that he has now lost rights to a total of four of his works.

On a busy evening of 12th of May 2021 at Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Auction convention was thrown out the window. Lot 104, numerically, may not have much significance but the work itself certainly does. Measuring 90cm x 90cm and featuring a masked man throwing a bouquet of flowers at an invisible enemy (or perhaps the auction estimate), the simple yet powerful “Love is in the Air” by British street artist Banksy smashed its estimate into pieces. Listed at between 3,000,000 - 5,000,000 GBP Love Is In The Air from the edition of 15 blew away all expectations and went for 11,000,000 GBP. Likewise, the decision to list payment in Cryptocurrency further added excitement as the old seemed to be taken over by the new.