Patrick Caulfield

Patrick Caulfield (1936–2005) was a British painter celebrated for his distinctive blend of abstraction and figuration, which brought a new clarity and wit to post-war art in Britain. Born in London, he studied at Chelsea School of Art before attending the Royal College of Art, where he was a contemporary of David Hockney and R.B. Kitaj. Though often associated with Pop Art, Caulfield developed a style that was uniquely his own, combining flat planes of intense colour with precise black outlines to create striking, pared-back images.

Caulfield’s work frequently explored the aesthetics of interiors and everyday objects — glasses, tables, lamps — distilled into elegant, almost schematic forms. This simplified vocabulary allowed him to play with perception and illusion, often incorporating passages of naturalistic detail within otherwise stylised compositions. The contrast between these modes gave his paintings a subtle tension, infusing the ordinary with both humour and poignancy.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Caulfield expanded his approach with increasingly complex spatial constructions, yet his commitment to clarity and refinement of form remained constant. His art can be read as both celebratory and melancholic, marked by an awareness of modern life’s beauty and its transience.

Caulfield was elected a Royal Academician in 1993. His works are housed in leading institutions including Tate, MoMA and the National Galleries of Scotland, affirming his reputation as one of the most original voices in British painting of the late 20th century.

Patrick Caulfield, R.A. (1936-2005)

Interior with Fondue Pan

Patrick Caulfield (1936-2005)

View of the Ruins

Patrick Caulfield (1936-2005)

Unfinished Painting

Patrick Caulfield, R.A. (1936-2005)

Interior with Room Divider

Patrick Caulfield, R.A. (1936-2005)

Still Life: Maroochydore

Patrick Caulfield, R.A. (1936-2005)

Glass & Plate, Black & White Checks

Patrick Caulfield, R.A. (1936-2005)

Concrete Villa, Brunn

Patrick Caulfield, R.A. (1936-2005)

Les Demoiselles d'Avignon Vues de Derrière

Patrick Caulfield, R.A. (1936-2005)

Still Life: Mother's Day

Patrick Caulfield, R.A. (1936-2005)

Small Window at Night

Patrick Caulfield, R.A. (1936-2005)

Portrait of a Frenchman

Patrick Caulfield, R.A. (1936-2005)

Glass and Plate, Brown Table

Patrick Caulfield, R.A. (1936-2005)

Wine Glass on Checked Table

Patrick Caulfield, R.A. (1936-2005)

Wall Plate: Highlights

PATRICK CAULFIELD, R.A. (1936-2005)

Wine Glasses on a Table

Patrick Caulfield (1936-2005)

Some Poems of Jules Laforgue, Petersburg Press, London, 1973 (C. 38)

Patrick Caulfield, R.A. (1936-2005)

Crying to the Wall: My God! My God! Will She Relent (from the poems of Jules Laforgue)

PATRICK CAULFIELD (1936-2005)

Les Demoiselles d'Avignon vues de derrière

Patrick Caulfield, R.A. (1936-2005)

You'll be sick if you spend all your time indoors

Patrick Caulfield (1936-2005)

Les Demoiselles d'Avignon vues de Derrière (Cristea 90)

PATRICK CAULFIELD (1936-2005)

Les Demoiselles d'Avignon vues de Derrière

Patrick Caulfield (1936-2005)

Les Demoiselles d'Avignon vues de Derrière (Cristea 90)

Patrick Caulfield, R.A. (1936-2005)

Menu: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Patrick Caulfield (1936-2005)

Garden with Pines, Signature Pots, Rosé Bottle, Terracotta Vase, Lamp and Pines, Evening Menu (Cristea 41-46)