GILBERT & GEORGE TATE MODERN 2007 BLUE SUIT SIGNED POSTER

This hand-signed poster promotes an exhibit at London’s Tate Modern Gallery titled “Gilbert & George: Major Exhibition” which ran from February 15 to May 7, 2007. The poster is one panel of a larger work by the artists titled “Ishmael” which was included in the exhibition. Their signatures “Gilbert and George,” appear in gold ink on the red background in the middle of this poster.

The exhibition, which brought together works from Gilbert and George’s forty years of collaborative art, was at that time the largest retrospective of any artist to be held at Tate Modern.  The artists, Gilbert Prousch (b. 1943) and George Passmore (b. 1942), have lived and worked together in London as a collaborative duo since their art school days and are collectively known as just “Gilbert and George.” Their art has spanned decades and has ranged from sculpture to photography, digital work, performance art and conceptual art.

Their images often appear together in their art, and in this poster George (with the glasses), through the miracle of digital photography, appears in the middle as a two-headed freak (with one mouth, two noses and three eyes), with images of Gilbert (also a bit freakish) on either side. All three mouths are open, as if screaming loudly. They are known for their photo-based artworks, and the black and white photographs they use are frequently painted over with red and yellow accents, as illustrated in this poster. The black grid-like lines that crisscross the images in this poster, resembling the look of stained glass, are also a technique that they frequently use.

The zany antics and expressions of these two very creative and innovative artists, who fervently believe that “art is for all,” make this poster worth adding to your collection. The fact that it’s linen backed, signed by both the artists and the models make this poster all the more interesting, unique and valuable.  It's definitely a conversation piece.

Condition: A