Gilbert & George’s LONDON PICTURES, created in 2011, are their largest group of works, inspired by a collection of 3,712 newspaper posters carefully amassed and sorted by the artists over several years. In their words, ‘London is the most important part of our inspiration. It is all that surrounds us’, and the artworks articulate the magnificence and sordidness of London life. The posters’ headlines announce violence, passion, misery and greed, a veritable torrent of human existence.
Writer and novelist Michael Bracewell’s essay, written in 2011, considers how Gilbert & George came to know London by roaming the streets as Dickens did a century earlier, absorbing the city in exact proportion to the manner the city absorbed them. He depicts the LONDON PICTURES as the cumulative force and intensity of the pair’s art to date.
This catalogue features the twenty-eight LONDON PICTURES displayed at The Gilbert & George Centre in their 2024–25 exhibition, alongside a scale model of the show and exhibition views. It has been over a decade since these works were first unveiled on a global tour and many have never been shown in the UK previously.
Gilbert & George began creating art together in 1967 when they met at Central St Martins, and from the beginning – in their films and LIVING SCULPTURE performances – they have appeared as figures in their own art. The ‘two men, one artist’ believe that everything is a potential subject matter for art. They address social issues and taboos, challenging what might be considered ‘good taste’. The backdrop and inspiration for much of their art is the East End of London where Gilbert & George have lived for nearly fifty years.
We are a small team working from a limited space. We will always do our best to attend to your order promptly and will communicate if for some reason your delivery is delayed.
Your Item will be shipped using Royal Mail 48 and orders will be dispatched as soon as they are ready, separately from any other item you might order. We aim to deliver your item within the following times:
UK: 1-2 weeks
Europe: 2-4 weeks
Rest of World: 2-4 weeks
Lead times quoted are given in good faith. Where any delay occurs we will notify you by email at the earliest opportunity.
If the delivery time frame has passed and you’re still waiting for something from your order, please contact us at [email protected] and we’ll investigate for you.
Please be aware that customers in the EU may be liable for local taxes upon receiving this item.
If your product arrives damaged please contact us at [email protected] with images of the damaged item. We will then offer you an exchange or full refund.
Unfortunately we cannot offer an exchange or refund for other reasons.
