LONDON.- Shapero Modern recently moved to Bond Street to join the new Shapero flagship store at 94 New Bond Street. The first big exhibition at the new gallery space is 'The Modern Muse'. The exhibition includes works by Picasso, Andy Warhol, David Hockney, Grayson Perry and Banksy. The gallery will also be at Art Basel Miami Beach from the 6th to 8th December again, and some of Warhol's 'Details from the Renaissance Paintings' series will be on view as well as some of Hockney's 'Paper Pools'.
Muses have always played an important role in artists' lives and this exhibition also highlights how artists are inspired by each other's works. Banksy for example makes Kate Moss his muse, but is also inspired by Andy Warhol. In this unique screenprint on canvas, Kate Moss, an Artist's Proof aside from the edition of 5, Banksy combines the face of Kate Moss with the hair and trademark beauty spot of Marilyn Monroe. Banksy uses the portrait of Moss with the same intentions as Warholthe commodification of visual icons. In 2011, Banksy created a unique edition for Kate Moss herself, as a wedding gift on the occasion of her honeymoon, where she was surprised to find the artwork in her hotel bathroom waiting for her. It was exhibited in Banksy's first, landmark gallery exhibition, Crude Oils: A Gallery of Re-Mixed Masterpieces: Vandalism and Vermin, in October 2005, Kate Moss (2005) is an exceptionally rare work on canvas by the artist.
Andy Warhol in turn was inspired by Botticelli's famous Venus. The exhibition includes Andy Warhol's screen print Details of Renaissance Paintings: Sandro Botticelli, Birth of Venus, 1482 (1984). We will never know for certain who Botticelli's muse was, but Venus can certainly be seen as part of Warhol's series of famous women, which included Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Queen Elizabeth II.
Picasso is famous for his muses and this exhibition includes a lithograph from 1955 of Portrait de Femme II, which depicts Jacqueline Roque, his muse from around 1953 when they met until his death in 1973. She became his second wife and he painted more portraits of her than any of his other lovers.
Celia Birtwell, the textile designer, is David Hockney's most famous muse - she posed for him from the 1960s - and the exhibition includes one of the most recognisable portraits, Celia with Green Hat (1984) which was part of Hockney's Moving Focus Series.
A Reclining Artist, is Grayson Perry's contribution to celebrating muses. The etching from 2017 shows the artist's fantasy, depicting him as the artist, representing masculinity, and also as 'Claire', his female alter-ego.
Shapero Modern celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. The gallery continues to offer a wide range of post-war and contemporary prints and works on paper with a primary focus on American 20th-century art. The curated selection of eminent artists include Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Frank Stella, Robert Indiana and Pablo Picasso.
Tabitha Philpott-Kent, director of Shapero Modern, curates regularly changing exhibitions and offers a professional art advisory service with her team to both seasoned collectors as well as first-time buyers. Tabitha says: "We are delighted to be joining the rest of the team in the new flagship store on Bond Street, giving us more exposure to visitors of London's most iconic shopping street".
The gallery has moved to the Shapero headquarters, which also houses the company's rare bookshop and decorative print gallery in over 8000 square feet. Shapero has created the best possible experience for visitors and is welcoming them to the world of art and rare books in the heart of Londons Mayfair.