Peter Blake

Sir Peter Blake (b. 1932) is a seminal figure in British Pop Art, best known for his role in bridging fine art and popular culture. Fusing imagery from advertising, music, comics and consumer goods, Blake created a distinct visual language that reflected post-war Britain’s rapidly changing cultural landscape. His most iconic contribution remains the design for the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover (1967), a landmark of 20th-century graphic art that exemplified his collage-based practice and fascination with celebrity.

Born in Dartford, Kent, Blake studied at Gravesend Technical College and later at the Royal College of Art in London, graduating in 1956. Early in his career, he drew from folk art, Victoriana and the world of wrestling and fairgrounds, aligning with contemporaries such as Richard Hamilton and Eduardo Paolozzi in shaping the contours of British Pop. His paintings from the late 1950s and early 60s — such as On the Balcony (1955–57) and Self-Portrait with Badges (1961) — blend painterly realism with collage, highlighting his interest in both high and low culture.

Though often associated with Pop Art, Blake’s career has spanned a wide array of styles and subjects, from sentimental portraiture and literary references to commercial commissions and public art projects. Throughout, his work has retained a consistent sense of nostalgia, wit and craftsmanship.

Blake was elected a Royal Academician in 1981 and knighted in 2002. His work is represented in major collections including Tate, the V&A and the Museum of Modern Art, New York.