richard hamilton 1922 2011

richard hamilton image © designboom

richard hamilton, one of the most influential british artists of the 20th century, has died today (september 13) aged 89.

hamilton was born in 1922. he studied at the royal academy schools from 1938 until it closed for the war in 1940. too young for conscription, he was sent by the ministry of labour to be trained for nine months to become a draughtsman. he then worked in an armaments factory until he was able to return to the royal academy schools when it reopened in 1946. he later studied at the slade school of art.

his first solo show was held in 1950 and from there on, he became one of the most significant artists working in the UK. he was a key member and exponent of the independent group, formed in the 1950s by a group of artists and writers at the institute of contemporary arts.

hamilton taught at the london central school of arts and crafts and the university of newcastle upon tyne, but gave up teaching full-time in 1966. always engaging with a wide range of technological processes within his art, hamilton began creating computer generated works in the 1980s.

he had a long career as a printmaker and in 1983 won the world print council award. retrospective exhibitions of hamilton’s work have been held in the UK at the hanover gallery (1964), the tate gallery (1970 and 1992) and he represented britain at the venice art biennale in 1993.

• johnathan jones, describes hamilton’s approach and why he’s held in such high regard in this article for the guardian.

• the telegraph also has a more detailed obituary here

richard hamilton swingeing london 67 (f) 1968-69 screenprint on canvas, acrylic and collage 67 x 85 cm © 2010 richard hamilton

richard hamilton the citizen 1981-83 oil on canvas 2 canvases, each 200 x 100 cm © 2010 richard hamilton

richard hamilton the state 1993 humbrol enamel and cloth on cibachrome on canvas two canvases, each 200 x 100 cm © 2010 richard hamilton

richard hamilton shock and awe 2007-08 inkjet print on hewlett-packard premium canvas 200 x 100 cm © 2010 richard hamilton