Artists Space

Art From the British Left

June 16 – July 14, 1979

Organized by Lucy Lippard

A photograph of a long corridor. The wall at the end of the hallway shows the words "SOME BRITISH ART FROM THE LEFT." There is an open door on the right, where a room hung with small artworks can be seen.
Art From the British Left. Installation view, Artists Space, 1979. Courtesy Artists Space. [A photograph of a long corridor. The wall at the end of the hallway shows the words "SOME BRITISH ART FROM THE LEFT." There is an open door on the right, where a room hung with small artworks can be seen.]

Art From the British Left, June 16 - July 14, will present the work of seven artists working in London. It represents a sampling of the Socialist art practice in Britain. Each artist has worked at one time or another with the Labor Left, Communist Party, trade unions or women's movement and all are committed to an art of social concern.

Editor of The Black Phoenix, Rasheed Araeen reflects his opposition to the ostracism of third world artists from British culture. Conrad Atkinson's work has dealt with such topics as the struggles in Northern Ireland, industry's choice of profits over workers' health, conditions in the iron mines and the royal family's involvement in the Thalidomide scandal. Margaret Harrison uses personal and media sources to document the economic plight of non-unionized "homeworkers" in England. Alexis Hunter works in photographic series to comment on fashion mass media and violence toward women. Mary Kelly's work fuses collage, conceptual art, Marxism and Lacanian diagrams to explore her relationship with her child in a feminist context. Tony Rickaby works in a variety of mediums and insists on the validity of an art that is also propaganda. Marie Yates' book and photographic work juxtaposes a passion for British landscape with political analysis.

Organized by Lucy Lippard, this exhibition is the first in a series of socially concerned art to be held in various locations. It is intended to expand international communication and to form an archive of political art.

Lucy Lippard was born in 1937 in New York City. She is a writer, activist, curator, and cofounder of various activist artist groups (including Ad Hoc Women Artists Committee, Artists Call Against US Intervention in Central America, Heresies, P.A.D.D., and Printed Matter). Since 1966, she has published twenty-five books on contemporary art, cultural studies, and local history.

A photograph of a long corridor with a far wall with the words "SOME BRITISH ART FROM THE LEFT." Small works on paper are hung on the left side of the hallway.
Art From the British Left. Installation view, Artists Space, 1979. Courtesy Artists Space. [A photograph of a long corridor with a far wall with the words "SOME BRITISH ART FROM THE LEFT." Small works on paper are hung on the left side of the hallway.]
A photograph of a room hung with photographs and works on paper. In the center of the room is a table with folders and magazines and three chairs nearby.
Art From the British Left. Installation view, Artists Space, 1979. Artwork by Alexis Hunter. Courtesy Artists Space. [A photograph of a room hung with photographs and works on paper. In the center of the room is a table with folders and magazines and three chairs nearby.]
A photograph of a room with photographs and works on paper hung on the walls. In the center of the room is a table with folders and magazines and three chairs nearby.
Art From the British Left. Installation view, Artists Space, 1979. Artwork by Alexis Hunter. Courtesy Artists Space. [A photograph of a room with photographs and works on paper hung on the walls. In the center of the room is a table with folders and magazines and three chairs nearby.]
A photograph of a room with a series of photographs and works on paper hung in two rows on the far wall. A window on the left and a window on the right side are visible.
Art From the British Left. Installation view, Artists Space, 1979. Courtesy Artists Space. [A photograph of a room with a series of photographs and works on paper hung in two rows on the far wall. A window on the left and a window on the right side are visible.]
A photograph of a room with photographs and small works on paper hung on each wall. A visitor looks at the works on the far wall.
Art From the British Left. Installation view, Artists Space, 1979. Courtesy Artists Space. [A photograph of a room with photographs and small works on paper hung on each wall. A visitor looks at the works on the far wall.]
Photograph of two white gallery walls. On one wall there are photographs, text, and the title "HOMEWORKERS: WOMAN
Art From the British Left. Installation view, Artists Space, 1979. Artwork by Margaret Harrison. Courtesy Artists Space. [Photograph of two white gallery walls. On one wall there are photographs, text, and the title "HOMEWORKERS: WOMAN'S WORK," while the far wall features a row of small works on paper.]
A photograph of a white gallery wall, hung with photographs and printed text. The title "HOMEWORKERS: WOMAN
Art From the British Left. Installation view, Artists Space, 1979. Artwork by Margaret Harrison. Courtesy Artists Space. [A photograph of a white gallery wall, hung with photographs and printed text. The title "HOMEWORKERS: WOMAN'S WORK" is visible in the center.]
A photograph of a gallery wall hung with seven works on paper. In front of the wall are two chairs and a table with several envelopes and magazines.
Art From the British Left. Installation view, Artists Space, 1979. Artwork by Marie Yates. Courtesy Artists Space. [A photograph of a gallery wall hung with seven works on paper. In front of the wall are two chairs and a table with several envelopes and magazines.]
A photograph of a room with works on paper hung on one wall and photographs on the other wall. In the center of the room is a table, strewn with papers, with three chairs.
Art From the British Left. Installation view, Artists Space, 1979. Artwork by Marie Yates. Courtesy Artists Space. [A photograph of a room with works on paper hung on one wall and photographs on the other wall. In the center of the room is a table, strewn with papers, with three chairs.]
A photograph of a white wall hung with 12 works of the same size in a row.
Art From the British Left. Installation view, Artists Space, 1979. Artwork by Mary Kelly. Courtesy Artists Space. [A photograph of a white wall hung with 12 works of the same size in a row.]
Three walls hung with small works on paper and photographs are visible. There is a window on the right.
Art From the British Left. Installation view, Artists Space, 1979. Artwork by Mary Kelly. Courtesy Artists Space. [Three walls hung with small works on paper and photographs are visible. There is a window on the right.]
Three walls hung with photographs and small works on paper are visible. There is a window on the right.
Art From the British Left. Installation view, Artists Space, 1979. Artwork by Mary Kelly. Courtesy Artists Space. [Three walls hung with photographs and small works on paper are visible. There is a window on the right.]
A photograph of a room with photographs and works on paper on the walls. In the center of the room is a table with folders and binders and three chairs. A door marked with "205" is ajar on the left side of the photograph.]
Art From the British Left. Installation view, Artists Space, 1979. Courtesy Artists Space. [A photograph of a room with photographs and works on paper on the walls. In the center of the room is a table with folders and binders and three chairs. A door marked with "205" is ajar on the left side of the photograph.]]
A photograph of a collage with newspaper articles and other paper ephemera.
Rasheed Araeen, For Oluwale, 1971-1973. Collage panel, dimensions unknown. Courtesy Artists Space. [A photograph of a collage with newspaper articles and other paper ephemera.]
A photograph of a short printed text. In front of the text is a doll lying in supine position.
Rasheed Araeen, Paki Bastard, 1977. Courtesy Artists Space. [A photograph of a short printed text. In front of the text is a doll lying in supine position.]

Art From the British Left Press Release

Art From the British Left Exhibition Description

Art From the British Left List of Works

Art From the British Left Caption Sheet

Bell, Jane. "Hybrid Art." The Village Voice. July 2, 1979. Print, 62-63.

Programming at Artists Space is partially supported by the New York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

    On a white background black print reads
    Art From the British Left. Installation view, Artists Space, 1979. Courtesy Artists Space. [On a white background black print reads "IF THERE'S NO DANCING AT THE REVOLUTION, I'M NOT COMING -Emma Goldman" above handwriting reading "So, who said you're invited?" and "You mean 'WAVE' distortion in that case, no FEAT required. Mr Mü."]