Skip to main content

Colin Self Art

British, b. 1941
Colin E Self (born 1941 in Rackheath, Norfolk) is an English Pop Artist, whose work has addressed the theme of Cold War politics. As a student at the Slade School of Fine Art from 1961 to 1963 Colin Self received encouragement for his drawings and collages from the artists David Hockney and Peter Blake. Visits to the United States and Canada in 1962 and 1965 heightened his consciousness of Cold War politics and events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis and the CND marches led him to create highly-innovative prints such as Nuclear Bomber No.1 (1963), one of the earliest multiple plate etchings, and paintings such as ‘Waiting Women and Two Nuclear Bombers’ (1962–63). He explored the relationship between violence and sexual threat in drawings of glamorous models and his iconic ‘Leopard-skin Nuclear Bomber’ sculptures. Following his trip to the US in 1965 he produced a series of drawings based on American nuclear fall-out shelters, Art Deco cinema interiors and of hot dogs, which he described as being ‘as important a 20th century development as a rocket.’ Richard Hamilton called him ‘the best draughtsman in England since William Blake.’ During the 60s Self showed with the Robert Fraser Gallery, London. Self was a central figure in the 1960s boom in printmaking. Drawing images from a variety of commercial sources, he created the Power and Beauty series of screen prints (1968) at Editions Alecto while his etching suite Prelude to the 1000 Temporary Objects of Our Time (1970–71) sought to provide a unique record of society in the event of its possible destruction. Suspicious of the commercial art world Self worked in isolation during the 1970s, producing atmospheric watercolours and charcoals of the landscapes of his native county Norfolk, and Scotland. A trip to the former Soviet Union in 1985-6 provided further stimulus to his explorations of Cold War culture. His collages from the 1980s to the present day combine his interest in Surrealist juxtaposition and the subconscious, with an inventive visual imagination. Some of these works such as ‘Burning Man Jumping from Building’ (1983) and ‘New York Disaster’ (1998) appear remarkably prescient in the light of events such as the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001, while others create lighter, often humorous narratives from found material in everyday life – an extension of the language of Pop art. In 1997 the Tate Gallery held a show of all its holdings of his work. Since 2000 Self has worked on his ‘Odyssey/Iliad’ suite of etchings, in which the artist has returned to his 1960s technique of multiple-plate etching to re-tell the classical story by Homer using contemporary found-imagery and themes. A retrospective of his work entitled 'Colin Self: Art in the Nuclear Age' was held at Pallant House Gallery in 2008. Public collections holding work by Colin Self include Arts Council of Great Britain, Museum of Modern Art, Pallant House, Tate Gallery and The Priseman Seabrook Collection.
(Biography provided by Petersburg Press)
to
7
5
2
7
Overall Height
to
Overall Width
to
3
2
1
5
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
7
12
32
21
19
16
5
5
2
Artist: Colin Self
Dealer: Petersburg Press
Microwave Oven (A Couple in the Sea)
By Colin Self
Located in New York, NY
A contemporary of David Hockney and Peter Blake, Colin Self is an important British printmaker whose innovative etching techniques and novel use of found materials have defined his diverse oeuvre. Yet unlike most artists associated with Pop Art, Self eschewed glossy, colorful bombast for nuanced drawings in a limited palette. Self's imagery has ranged from the geopolitical -- nuclear bombers, fallout shelters; to American icons -- hot dogs, Coca Cola cans; to the everyday -- intimate scenes of animals and plants, and whimsical figure drawings as seen here. The title of this print, Microwave Oven...
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Colin Self Art

Materials

Drypoint

Cat with Red Claws and a Bird
By Colin Self
Located in New York, NY
Once a peer of David Hockney and Peter Blake during school, Colin Self is an important contemporary British printmaker whose innovative etching techniques and novel use of found mate...
Category

Early 2000s Colin Self Art

Materials

Drypoint

Follow the Flow, Colin Self. Abstract geometric Pop Art drawing black and white
By Colin Self
Located in New York, NY
A contemporary of David Hockney and Peter Blake, Colin Self is an important British printmaker whose innovative etching techniques and novel use of found materials have defined his d...
Category

Early 2000s Abstract Colin Self Art

Materials

Etching

Hot Dog, Colin Self. British Pop Art cold war americana bright red black etching
By Colin Self
Located in New York, NY
A contemporary of David Hockney and Peter Blake, Colin Self is an important British printmaker whose innovative etching techniques and novel use of found materials have defined his d...
Category

Early 2000s Pop Art Colin Self Art

Materials

Drypoint

Crab, Plaice and Prawns
By Colin Self
Located in New York, NY
A contemporary of David Hockney and Peter Blake, Colin Self is an important British printmaker whose innovative etching techniques and novel use of found materials have defined his d...
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Colin Self Art

Materials

Drypoint

Dead Bird for Craigie No. 2
By Colin Self
Located in New York, NY
A contemporary of David Hockney and Peter Blake, Colin Self is an important British printmaker whose innovative etching techniques and novel use of found materials have defined his diverse oeuvre. Yet unlike most artists associated with Pop Art, Self eschewed glossy, colorful bombast for nuanced drawings in a limited palette. Self's imagery has ranged from the geopolitical -- nuclear bombers, fallout shelters; to American icons -- hot dogs, Coca Cola cans; to the everyday -- intimate scenes of animals and plants, and whimsical figure drawings. This arresting portrait of a raven's body is executed in moody shades of black and grey. A tangle of short, sharp marks swirls against the white background, resembling flying birds. At the top, hand written text reads: "dead bird...
Category

Early 2000s Expressionist Colin Self Art

Materials

Drypoint

Girl with Long Hair, Colin Self british Pop Art portrait of woman in black white
By Colin Self
Located in New York, NY
A contemporary of David Hockney and Peter Blake, Colin Self is an important British printmaker whose innovative etching techniques and novel use of found materials have defined his d...
Category

Early 2000s Pop Art Colin Self Art

Materials

Etching

Related Items
Guldflod
Located in Miami, FL
Camilla Engström Guldflod, 2021 Hand singed and numbered Digital print on 310g Photo Rag paper 80 x 60 cm Edition of 100 plus 10 AP
Category

2010s Colin Self Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Alexander Calder lithograph Derrière le miroir (Calder prints)
By Alexander Calder
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Alexander Calder Lithograph c. 1967 from Derrière le miroir: Lithograph in colors; 15 x 11 inches. Very good overall vintage condition; well-preserved. Unsigned from an edition of u...
Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Colin Self Art

Materials

Lithograph

Hygla
Located in Mount Vernon, NY
Inscriptions: Bottom, plate: Io. Dom. Campiglia del. / Cosmus Mogalli Sculp. Top right, plate: XXIV Summary/Description: Engraving by Cosmus Mogalli after drawing by Giovanni Domenic...
Category

Late 18th Century Colin Self Art

Materials

Engraving

Lithograph - Limited Edition 15/150 - Keith Haring Foundation Inc.
By Keith Haring
Located in Köln, DE
KEITH HARING - Untitled Limited 1990s edition by the Keith Haring Foundation, Inc. Only 150 copies total (here 15/150). Lithograph on thick ca...
Category

1990s Pop Art Colin Self Art

Materials

Lithograph

Ukrainian Dream
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Vitaly was considered an up and coming artist in his native Ukraine, after years of training under one of the Ukraine’s greatest graphic artists...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Colin Self Art

Materials

Etching, Aquatint

Lithograph - Limited Edition 39/150 - Keith Haring Foundation Inc.
By Keith Haring
Located in Köln, DE
KEITH HARING - Untitled (Andy Mouse) Rare and limited 1990s edition by the Keith Haring Foundation, Inc. Only 150 copies total (here 39/150). ...
Category

1990s Pop Art Colin Self Art

Materials

Lithograph

Composition, Éloge de Gromaire, Marcel Gromaire
By Marcel Gromaire
Located in Auburn Hills, MI
Lithograph on vélin du Marais paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition with centerfold, as issued. Notes: From the volume, Éloge de Gromaire, 1958. Publ...
Category

1950s Modern Colin Self Art

Materials

Lithograph

Surrealist Salvador Dali Large Pochoir Etching Drypoint Lithograph Chariot Rider
By Salvador Dalí­
Located in Surfside, FL
Salvador Dalí (1904-1989) – Spanish painter, graphic artist and sculptor. Drypoint with etching and pochoir on Japon paper "Elijah and the Chariot," 1975, (Horse and rider) from the "Our Historical Heritage" suite. Pencil signed along the lower right and numbered 53/250 along the lower left. Literature: Field 75-4 J Framed; Height: 29 in x width: 35 in. Mat opening 19.5 X 25.5. The Spanish artist’s extensive oeuvre not only includes watercolors, drawings and sculptures but also tapestries; here a fine example from the limited edition ‘The Twelve Tribes of Israel’ The tapestry was created after an etching by Salvador Dalí from 1973 with the title ‘The Tribe of Judah’, which the artist created as part of a suite to mark the 25th anniversary of the State of Israel, and in which he represented the twelve tribes of Israel. This vintage French tapestry is an impeccable textile re-creation of a rare Dali etching. This is a flat weave Aubusson style tapisserie. The edition size was 500. The tapestry is inscribed with woven ‘Salvador Dalí’ lower right Genre: Surrealism Subject: people, architecture rendering Medium: textile Salvador Dali (Spanish, 1904-1989) Salvador Dali is considered as the greatest original artist of the surrealist art movement and one of the greatest masters of art of the twentieth century. Dali began to study art at the Royal Academy of Art in Madrid. He was expelled twice and never took the final examinations. His opinion was that he was more qualified than those who should have examined him. In 1928 Dali went to Paris where he met the Spanish painters Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro. He established himself as the principal figure of a group of surrealist artists grouped around Andre Breton, who was something like the theoretical "schoolmaster" of surrealism. Years later Breton turned away from Dali accusing him of support of fascism, excessive self-presentation and financial greediness. By 1929 Dali had found his personal style that should make him famous - the world of the unconscious that is recalled during our dreams. The surrealist theory is based on the theories of the psychologist Dr. Sigmund Freud. Recurring images of burning giraffes and melting watches became the artist's surrealist trademarks. Along with Rene Magritte his is considered the greatest of the Surrealists. His great craftsmanship allowed him to execute his paintings in a nearly photo realistic style. No wonder that the artist was a great admirer of the vintage Italian Renaissance painter Raphael. Meeting Gala was the most important event in the artist's life and decisive for his future career. She was a Russian immigrant and ten years older than Dali. When he met her, she was married to Paul Eluard. In 1933 Salvador Dali had his first one-man show in New York. One year later he visited the U.S. for the first time supported by a loan of US$500 from Pablo Picasso. To evade World War II, Dali chose the U.S.A. as his permanent residence in 1940. He had a series of spectacular exhibitions, among others a great retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He has worked in paining, sculpture, tapestry, Daum glass and prints. Dali became the darling of the American High Society. Celebrities like Jack Warner or Helena Rubinstein gave him commissions for portraits. His artworks became a popular trademark and besides painting he pursued other activities - jewelry and dated clothing designs for Coco Chanel or film making with Alfred Hitchcock. In 1948 Dali and Gala returned to Europe, spending most of their time either in their residence in Ligate/Spain or in Paris/France or in New York. Dali developed a lively interest in science, religion and history. He integrated things into his art that he had picked up from popular science...
Category

1970s Surrealist Colin Self Art

Materials

Drypoint, Etching, Lithograph

Return to Oz, psychedelic 1967 pop art vintage poster
Located in Spokane, WA
Original poster: HEAD OUT TO OZ, artist: James McMullan. Size 24" x 37". Rolled, Not folded; very good to excellent lithograph condition. Year: ...
Category

1960s Pop Art Colin Self Art

Materials

Lithograph

Bokan - camouflage pink. Limited Edition (print) by Takashi Murakami, signed
By Takashi Murakami
Located in Hong Kong, HK
Bokan - camouflage pink, 2009 by Takashi Murakami Offset print, numbered and signed by the artist 19 11/16 × 19 11/16 in 50 × 50 cm Edition 71/300 About the Artist: Takashi Murakami is best known for his contemporary combination of fine art and pop culture. He uses recognizable iconography like Doraemon and cartoonish flowers and infuses it with Japanese culture. The result is a colorful body of work that takes the shape of paintings, sculptures and animations. In the 1990s, Murakami founded the Superflat movement in an attempt to expose the "shallow emptiness of Japanese consumeristic culture." The artist plays on the familiar aesthetic of mangas, Japanese-language comics, to render works that appear popular and accessible, all the while denouncing the universality and impersonality of consumer goods. Murakami has done collaborations with numerous brands and celebrities including Kanye West, Louis Vuitton...
Category

Early 2000s Pop Art Colin Self Art

Materials

Offset

The Portraiture of Lamprey
By James Seymour
Located in Mount Vernon, NY
Restrike of engraved plate with hand color, from a series of twelve portraits of celebrated race horses wwth their groomsmen, by Irish mezzotint engraver Richard Houston (1721-1775) after James Seymour (1702-1752) with ornamental borders and coat of arms. This series of 12 mezzotint plates commissioned by Thomas Spencer...
Category

Mid-20th Century Colin Self Art

Materials

Engraving

Egea, an edge - XX Century, Abstract Etching Print, Colorful
By Leszek Rózga
Located in Warsaw, PL
Etching on paper, épreuve d'artiste, 1973 LESZEK RÓZGA (1924-2015). He studied painting at Maria Skarbek-Kruszewska private atelier in 1945-46. In 1948, he began studies at the art...
Category

1990s Abstract Colin Self Art

Materials

Etching, Paper

Colin Self art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Colin Self art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Colin Self in drypoint, engraving, screen print and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the Pop Art style. Not every interior allows for large Colin Self art, so small editions measuring 8 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Eduardo Paolozzi, Pure Evil, and Fran Bull. Colin Self art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $500 and tops out at $3,716, while the average work can sell for $1,275.

Recently Viewed

View All