FB55, ICA
British art heavyweight Francis Bacon is remembered at the ICA, London with an archival display on his first show in 1955
Private view card (front and inside) for Francis Bacon, ICA, 1955. Photo: Mark Blower.
Francis Bacon at the ICA, London
It has been sixty years since artist Francis Bacon’s first solo UK exhibition, and the ICA is hosting a unique show of archival material to shed new light on this pivotal moment. The original show was held on the ICA’s former premises on Dover Street in the same year that Bacon represented Britain at the Venice Biennale alongside Lucien Freud and Ben Nicholson. FB55
showcases an array of material from the 1955 exhibition, from which surprisingly little documentation remains, including contemporary reviews and invitations.
Francis Bacon exhibition 2015
FB55 will also explore Bacon’s relationship with the Independent Group, a collective of artists who are credited as the birth point of Pop Art. The group paved the way for the Pop Art movement with their use of the pop-culture imagery. Bacon set himself apart however, preferring to avoid direct appropriation of pop images and calling his IG contemporaries ‘mixed-media jackdaws’.
For fans of the twisted English painter, this show at the ICA offers a unique insight into Francis Bacon’s first solo show and attitude in 1955.
You can also join ICA Executive Director Gregor Muir for a tour of the exhibition on Thursday 30 April at 5pm. Click here to book now.
It has been sixty years since artist Francis Bacon’s first solo UK exhibition, and the ICA is hosting a unique show of archival material to shed new light on this pivotal moment. The original show was held on the ICA’s former premises on Dover Street in the same year that Bacon represented Britain at the Venice Biennale alongside Lucien Freud and Ben Nicholson. FB55
showcases an array of material from the 1955 exhibition, from which surprisingly little documentation remains, including contemporary reviews and invitations.
Francis Bacon exhibition 2015
FB55 will also explore Bacon’s relationship with the Independent Group, a collective of artists who are credited as the birth point of Pop Art. The group paved the way for the Pop Art movement with their use of the pop-culture imagery. Bacon set himself apart however, preferring to avoid direct appropriation of pop images and calling his IG contemporaries ‘mixed-media jackdaws’.
For fans of the twisted English painter, this show at the ICA offers a unique insight into Francis Bacon’s first solo show and attitude in 1955.
You can also join ICA Executive Director Gregor Muir for a tour of the exhibition on Thursday 30 April at 5pm. Click here to book now.
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| What | FB55, ICA |
| Where | Institute of Contemporary Arts, The Mall, London, SW1Y 5AH | MAP |
| Nearest tube | Piccadilly Circus (underground) |
| When |
24 Mar 15 – 17 May 15, 11am – 6pm, except Thursday, 11am – 9pm |
| Price | £1 with Day-Membership |
| Website | Click here for more details |