Peter Blake in Conversation with Rachel Cooke, Barbican Centre

Peter Blake: The Beatles to the Tate
Many of you will know him for his iconic 1967 Beatles album cover Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band; others as the Godfather of British Pop Art, creating seminal works such as On the Balcony and The First Real Target. But Peter Blake’s long and illustrious career also includes a whole host of other dazzling achievements such as album covers for the likes of The Who, Oasis and Paul Weller, illustrated books, portraits, limited edition prints and even a collage of the Chelsea football kit.
Not surprising then, he’s received a CBE, been conferred as a Royal Academician, had two Tate retrospectives, as well as a gallery opened in his name displaying his album cover art at the School of Music at the University of Leeds.
Peter Blake: toys and other oddities 
Aside from his artistic talents, Blake has also amassed a decades-long collection of toys and other weird and wonderful objects in the British folk tradition. His collection will be displayed alongside key works in the current Barbican exhibition Magnificent Obsessions, about the collections of artists’. Funny, irreverent and sharp, Blake is a gem when interviewed. Don’t miss his conversation with Observer journalist Rachel Cooke about his career and collection.