Richard Hambleton

Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld and Andy Valmorbida in collaboration with Giorgio Armani present “Richard Hambleton New York –  The Godfather of street art”, an exhibition of works by Richard Hambleton

London, November 2010 – Elusive New York artist Richard Hambleton will be the subject of an exhibition at The Dairy in London, following  highly successful exhibitions in New York, Milan, and Cannes. The exhibition, opening on 18^th November, will be curated by Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld and Andy Valmorbida in collaboration with Giorgio Armani.

Richard Hambleton rose to fame in the early 1980’s when like his contemporaries, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring, he used the streets of New York, San Francisco, Berlin, Paris, London and Japan as his canvas for visually arresting public art, most notably his “Shadowman” and “Crime Scene” series. Hambleton has now been labelled ‘The Godfather of Street Art’, influencing artists such as Paris based street artist Blek le Rat and English street artist Banksy.

The last influential surviving member of the East Village Art Movement, Hambleton saw what fame and drug use did to his close friends, and for the last 20 years has led a relatively reclusive life on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Despite a low public profile, Hambleton has continued to create and his works can be found in the permanent collections of The MoMA, the Brooklyn Museum, The Houston Museum of Fine Art, The Check Point Charlie Museum and The Zellermeyer in Berlin; the Andy Warhol Museum, the Austin Museum of Art, the Milwaukee Art Museum, the New Museum of Contemporary Art, the Queens Museum, and Harvard University. He was chosen for the Venice Biennale in 1984.

Giorgio Armani says: “I have long been a fan of Richard Hambleton. Richard’s work is of the streets, and for me stands as a reminder that art in all its forms is first and foremost driven by individual passion and creativity”

Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld and Andy Valmorbida say: “Richard Hambleton’s brush stroke as an artist is genius and is in a league of its own. Most significantly, he is the most important and influential living street artist in the world today, with a story and career that is unparalleled. It is also a privilege for us to collaborate again with Giorgio Armani and we’re pleased to present it in such a prestigious space.”

The Richard Hambleton Exhibition will be open to the public from November 19^th to December 3^rd. During that time the pop-up gallery at the Dairy, at 7 Wakefield St in London will be open Monday to Friday from 10am to 7pm. Of the 45 pieces, 30 works (including 25 never before seen works) will be for sale.

Moreover, eight custom made light-boxes with photography of Richard Hambleton’s original street art from the early 80’s will be presented.