Gagosian London to Unveil Howard Hodgkin Takeover at Burlington Arcade Gallery

On September 3 in London, Gagosian will dedicate its spirited Burlington Arcade Gallery and shop to the luminary Howard Hodgkin (1932-2017) in a comprehensive exhibition on view through September 28. 

Journeying through the artist’s dynamic personal interests, including painting, design, literature, food, travel, and antiquities, Gagosian revels in the creative’s energetic life explorations. A curated selection of objects from the new Howard Hodgkin Home line will also debut and be available for purchase, celebrating the enduring artist’s soulful endeavors and supporting the Howard Hodgkin’s Legacy Trust. 

Howard Hodgkin was Inspired by Matisse, Stuart Davis, and Picasso 

Born in Hammersmith, London in 1932, Hodgkin resolved to be an artist at the tender age of 5-years-old. Upon moving to America with his mother and sister and attending Long Island’s Greenvale School, Hodgkin had the opportunity to visit the Museum of Modern Art in New York. There he was motivated by the divine artistry of greats such as Matisse, Stuart Davis, and Picasso. 

Later, as a student of Eton College, the creative was exposed to masterpieces of the Royal Library by his art professor Wilfrid Blunt. Hodgkin’s first artwork, Memoirs (1949), was a small-scale painting featuring a deep, moody palette and visceral thematics. 

A highly-revered contemporary painter and printmaker in Britain and throughout the world, Hodgkin’s charismatic works dexterously utilize abstraction to bring to light vivid emotions, gestures, and depictions. The visionary has stood as a signature artist at the prestigious gallery since 1998, and the latest presentation will offer viewers access to iconic gems in a momentous partnership with the artist’s estate. 

On the exquisite upper floor of the gallery, Always Afternoon (2016), a rich oil-on-wood painting, glows from within in an effective palette of red, blue, white, and brown. The compelling creation was displayed in Hodgin’s 2017 inaugural show at Gagosian Hong Kong, titled “Howard Hodgkin: In the Pink.” Rooted in the artist’s meaningful memories, the vivacious piece effortlessly links the masterful hand of the artist with the mortal yearnings of his audience. 

The Howard Hodgkin Home Range Unfolds in London 

Visitors will not want to miss the unveiling of the much-anticipated Howard Hodgkin Home range, bursting with collectible treasures such as whimsical crockery, chic furnishings, and opulent rugs. Enchanting plates inspired by the Souvenir (1981) print will make an appearance alongside a limited-edition rug, produced by the skillful Chirstopher Farr, which recalls Red Sky in the Morning (2016), a radiant painting on view in the gallery’s basement realm. 

In this celebratory moment, Howard Hodgkin’s Legacy Trust endeavors to transform the artist’s captivating studio into an experiential museum, welcoming guests from around the world to bask in the glory of his extraordinary artistry. 

Additionally on view, and for sale, will be Hodgkin’s Indian Leaves (1982), a dreamlike, sunset-hued lithograph, as well as a series of poignant prints and books presented in a cozy reading room of the gallery. 

Sweeping catalogs from legendary presentations at the Museum of Modern Art, Fort Worth, Texas (1995), National Portrait Gallery, London (2017); Hepworth Wakefield, England (2017); and global Gagosian galleries will also be accessible beside large-scale posters—ideal for bringing the magic of Hodgkin’s into any peaceful space of the home.