Pop Art was first born in England in the early 1950s, due to an organization called Independent Group, that wanted to create a new theme for all kind of arts. John McHale and Lawrence Alloway came up with the idea of popular culture. This was the right choice, since in that time American mass productions, movies with their stars had already spread in England; people were not judging its influence but accepted the fact that they were living in it and consuming it like Americans. . Later, English Pop artists adopted a slightly satirical and critical perception towards pop culture, and were stuck in this double attitude.
Pop Art in England appeared in three phases. The first was in 1954-55, and the members of the Independent Group were the representatives, such as Paolozzi, Richard Hamilton, Reyner Banham and John McHale. This phase’s characteristic were figurative representation, attempts to enlarge the fields of art and the acceptance of industrialization and technology.
The second phase occured between 1957-1961, and was abstract, left out the figures and concentrated on the environment. The central figures were Richard Smith and Peter Blake.
The third phase started in 1961, and returned to figurative art. R. B. Kitaj can be mentioned here, along with Derek Boshier, Allen Jones and David Hockney.
Richard Hamilton- Just What Is It That Makes Today’s Homes So Different, So Appealing? (1956, collage, Kunsthalle Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany)
Peter Blake, The First Real Target, 1961, collage, Tate Gallery, London, UK
Allen Jones, Hermaphrodite, 1963, oil on canvas, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, UK
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