‘Past Present’ opens online to the public on 26 March at Stephen Friedman Gallery. The presentation brings together paintings, sculptures and editions by contemporary artists inspired by notable historical works by Picasso, Matisse and Moore amongst others. ‘Past Present’ highlights one work each by Juan Araujo, Stephan Balkenhol, Lisa Brice, Tom Friedman, Wayne Gonzales, Ged Quinn, Deborah Roberts and Yinka Shonibare CBE RA.
Artists have always taken note of other artists’ creativity and work. While we tend to think of referencing as a postmodern phenomenon, the list of famous artists who documented admiration of past masters is endless; Landseer after Rubens; Singer Sargent after Velasquez; Latour after Titian, to name but a few. ‘Past Present’ continues this theme by exploring a selection of contemporary artists’ reinterpretation of historical works and movements.