2020 Exhibitions

George Him: A Polish Designer for Mid- Century Britain

31 January – 10 May 2020, Main Gallery

The first ever retrospective of the Polish-Jewish émigré who brought European modernist aesthetics to British graphic design.

Spanning George Him’s long and versatile career as both an independent designer and as one half of the prolific Lewitt-Him partnership (1933-1954), this exhibition will include iconic wartime propaganda posters for the Ministries of Food and Information, corporate branding for El Al airlines and adverts for clients like Schweppes, Technicolor, the Post Office and The Times, revealing one of the most important graphic artists of the 20th century.

Forensic Art: Illustrating Justice 22 May – 20 September 2020, Main Gallery

Lifting the lid on the untold story of illustration in the criminal justice system over the last 200 years.

Featuring everything from previously unseen 19th century courtroom sketches of the likes of Emmeline Pankhurst to contemporary digital ‘trial graphics’ used to explain forensic evidence to a jury, this landmark exhibition will show the crucial yet overlooked role illustration plays in the UK’s criminal justice system. It will include facial composites, images from forensic notebooks and drawings from notorious trials by the women leading courtroom illustration in the UK today.

Raymond Briggs: A Retrospective 2 October 2020 – 24 January 2021, Main Gallery

The first ever retrospective of one of the most important and popular author-illustrators of all time.

Raymond Briggs’ influence on children’s literature cannot be overstated. He invented scatological humour for children, centred stories around working-class families for the first time and confronted massive ‘grown-up’ issues including dementia, death and nuclear war. This long-awaited exhibition will show never-before- seen material from Briggs’ personal archive alongside original artwork from iconic books including his poignant picture book The Snowman (1980) and pioneering graphic novel Ethel & Ernest (1998), celebrating Briggs as an exceptional draughtsman, typographer and storyteller.

Tom of Finland 6 March – 28 June 2020, South Gallery

A rare opportunity to see original works by queer cultural icon Tom of Finland (born Touko Laaksonen) on the centenary of his birth.

This timely exhibition celebrates the artist whose unique aesthetic and homoerotic visions had a profound impact on the likes of Queen and the Village People – despite living and working in a country where both homosexuality and pornography were illegal. It will feature iconic, previously unseen drawings from Tom of Finland Foundation’s collection – unabashed tributes to gay sexuality and identity which continue to have an outsize influence today.

Peony Gent: Illustrator in Residence 3 July – 18 October 2020, South Gallery

Experimental comics and found poetry from House of Illustration’s sixth annual residency.

Peony Gent makes comics like you’ve never seen before: delicately drawn meditations on memory and gentle examinations of things usually ignored. Over a six month residency at House of Illustration, Gent will create an archive of overlooked things and thoughts in the King’s Cross area, transforming them into reflective illustrations, found poetry and installations.

Olivia Twist: London/Fond Gens Libre 23 October 2020 – 14 February 2021, South Gallery

Large-scale drawings and embroideries exploring family life.

Olivia Twist describes her work as ‘the shock of the familiar’, finding beauty and drama in everyday city life, from bus stops to internet cafes. In 2019, she swapped London for Fond Gens Libre, Saint Lucia, visiting her ancestral island for the first time in over 20 years. This new commission will feature portraits and intimate domestic scenes reflecting on family life on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

Quentin Blake: From the Studio Permanent display, Quentin Blake Gallery

An evolving display of current work from the UK’s most celebrated illustrator.

This rotating display provides a glimpse into Quentin Blake’s working world, offering an up-to-date showcase of his many projects as they happen. New for 2020 will be works for Greenpeace and North Middlesex Hospital and drawings from the latest book in the QB Papers series.

Colin McKenzie, Director of House of Illustration, says: “We are really delighted to be presenting our new exhibition programme which is particularly rich and varied for 2020. It includes a number of exciting firsts – the first retrospective of one of the titans of 20th century graphic design, George Him, and the first ever exhibition exploring the role of illustration in the criminal justice system. We continue the theme throughout 2020, ending the year in spectacular fashion with the first ever retrospective of one of the most important author-illustrators of all time, Raymond Briggs. Alongside these blockbuster shows, we are proud to continue championing contemporary illustrators like Olivia Twist and our new Illustrator in Residence, Peony Gent, and to celebrate the raw power of the form with a rare UK exhibition of the work of the iconic Tom of Finland.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

House of Illustration is the UK’s centre for illustration and graphic art. Its exhibition programme explores illustration from around the world, celebrating its rich and varied history and championing emerging talent. House of Illustration doesn’t just show illustration – it’s a place to learn and create, with a pioneering education programme for everyone from 2 year olds to retirees, beginners to professionals, all delivered by practising illustrators. A busy calendar of events includes talks, workshops, fairs and live drawing nights while the House of Illustration shop features exhibition merchandise and unique books, prints, cards and more from independent illustrators and makers.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

House of Illustration, 2 Granary Square, King’s Cross, London N1C 4BH 020 3696 2020, www.houseofillustration.org.uk, @illustrationHQ Open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5.30pm, Sunday 11am-5.30pm. Closed Monday. One ticket gives admission to all three galleries (£8.80).

LISTINGS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER:

George Him: A Polish Designer for Mid-Century Britain 31 January– 10 May 2020, Main Gallery

Tom of Finland 6 March – 28 June 2020, South Gallery

Forensic Art: Illustrating Justice 22 May – 20 September 2020, Main Gallery

Peony Gent: Illustrator in Residence 3 July – 18 October 2020, South Gallery

Raymond Briggs: A Retrospective 2 October 2020 – 24 January 2021, Main Gallery

Olivia Twist: London/Fond Gens Libre 23 October 2020 – 14 February 2021, South Gallery

Quentin Blake: From the Studio Permanent display, Quentin Blake Gallery

IMAGE CREDITS

Bottle labels for Schweppes, 1960 © George Him, courtesy of the Estate of George Him Coutroom drawing of the Harold Shipman trial, 1999 © Priscilla Coleman Illustration for Ethel and Ernest book cover, 1998 © Raymond Briggs, published by Penguin Random House Untitled, from Sex on the Train, 1974 © Tom of Finland, Tom of Finland Foundation (1974-2019) Comic for ‘Plant Power’ anthology, 2019 © Peony Gent, published by Kus Comics Before the Last Time, 2019 © Olivia Twist Drawings from The Art of Conversation, 2019 © Quentin Blake

FOR MORE INFORMATION, IMAGES, INTERVIEWS & PRESS VIEWS

Please contact Tracy Jones at Brera PR: 01702216658 / 07887514984 / [email protected]