SIR PETER BLAKE will today be named as the first patron of the Walker Art Gallery’s John Moores Painting Prize.
The “Godfather of Pop Art” will take on the championing role in the UK’s biggest painting competition, 50 years after winning its now defunct junior section with the work, Self Portrait with Badges.
Blake, who will celebrate his 80th birthday next year, is most famous for designing the cover of The Beatles’ 1967 album, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
He said: “You won’t see a show like the John Moores Painting Prize anywhere else.
“The Walker Art Gallery is one of the most important in Europe and has threaded its way through my career. It’s where I first displayed Self-Portrait with Badges, and where I had the privilege of working as a judge for John Moores 24.
“Now I have the pleasure of returning again to represent the John Moores Painting Prize as patron.”
Born in Kent, Blake was one of the leading figures in the development of British Pop Art, incorporating imagery from modern culture into his work, including comic books, consumer goods and advertisements.
He received a knighthood for services to arts in 2002, and remains one of the most significant and influential painters in the UK.
To mark his patronage, The Walker is showing a series of his silkscreen prints, entitled An Alphabet, on display until December 4.
Reyahn King, National Museums Liverpool’s director of art galleries, said: “He is one of the most significant and influential painters in the UK, making him the perfect choice.
“He is also a former winner of a John Moores Painting Prize in the year that John Moores himself was on the jury. I’m sure his championing of the Prize will attract more artists to enter their work and the public to visit the exhibition.”
Founded in 1957 by Littlewoods founder Sir John Moores, the competition is held biennially with a first prize of £25,000.
His daughter Lady Grantchester, from the prize’s co-organiser John Moores Liverpool Exhibition Trust, said: “The trustees and I are delighted that Sir Peter Blake has accepted our invitation to become the first patron.
“It is an accolade for us that an artist of his standing has given his support to the Prize and we very much look forward to working with him in the future.”
Next year’s judges are Merseyside-born Young British Artist Fiona Banner, Whitechapel Art Gallery director Iwona Blazwick, Spanish-born former Turner Prize nominee Angela de la Cruz, Turner Prize 2011 nominee George Shaw and BBC creative director Alan Yentob.
The call for entries is now open, with the exhibition of finalists to be held from September15 to November 25, 2012. Further details at www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/johnmoores
IN TOMORROW’S Daily Post: Sir Peter Blake talks to Arts Editor Laura Davis about his John Moores Painting Prize win
