Lichtenstein: A Retrospective Opens in London to Much Fanfare

For the first time in more than 20 years, a full-scale retrospective of Roy Lichtenstein’s work is being exhibited in London at the Tate Modern. Lichtenstein, who was born in Manhattan in 1923, took to art an early age dabbling in Cubism and Expressionism before finding his stride as a pop artist, but not until he was nearly 40 years old.

It was in the early 1960s was when he began painting things he found in comic books, mail-order catalogues and True Romance magazines. Lichtenstein’s comic book-style and his signature Benday dots, a printing process in which small, closely spaced dots in various colours, is instantly recognizable the world over, and the influence he has had on artists since is immeasurable.

Lichtenstein: A Retrospective is co-organised by The Art Institute of Chicago and Tate Modern, and brings together 125 of the pop artist’s most preeminent paintings and sculptures. Stretched over 13 rooms, a small exhibit this is not. But then again, for an artist who made such an impact on modern art, respect needs to be paid.

Lichtenstein: A Retrospective runs until May 27, 2013 at the Tate Modern.

www.tate.org.uk