Style of the City visits one of the most anticipated art exhibitions in Cardiff this Summer, After Warhol, by Paul Stephenson.
The contemporary artist, Paul Stephenson, appeared in Cardiff last weekend to showcase his latest collection, created in collaboration with one of Andy Warhol’s original master printers, Alexander Heinrici.
Local art fans met Paul Stephenson at Castle Fine Art in St David’s, on Saturday 6th July, to learn about the inspirations and techniques behind his latest body of work, After Warhol. However, for those of you who were unable to attend this weekend, there is still time to view the collection, as it will be on display in the gallery for a further week.
The event was truly magnificent, with pieces from the collection, such as ‘Jackie’ and ‘Mao’, displayed throughout the gallery. I was greeted with a gin cocktail, inspired by the classic French 75, created by Lab 22 who were providing the cocktails all afternoon. The lovely staff of Castle Fine Art were friendly and knowledgeable of every piece of art displayed throughout the gallery. They also, so kindly, walked me through the exhibition and gave me an insight into the work itself.
Praised by both the BBC and Vice magazine, After Warhol sees Paul bring Warhol’s original acetates to life. It is clear to see that Paul has faithfully followed Warhol’s method, enlarging the original acetate before transferring the image to a larger canvas and using a squeegee to press the inks through a screen.
Paul’s venture into the world of Warhol began in 2010 when he purchased a collection of the artist’s original acetates. Fast-forward to today and he is the only artist with whom Warhol’s silkscreen printer of choice, Alexander Heinrici, is working with to create Warhol inspired screen prints.
Paul Stephenson, who was so clearly passionate of every piece from his collection, spoke candidly to fans and happily answered any questions. My favourite piece, out of the entire collection, was his portrayal of Jackie Kennedy, which happens to hold a special place in his heart, as it was the first print he created.
Speaking ahead of his appearance, Paul Stephenson said: “When producing each piece, I get into character and often feel like one of Warhol’s studio assistants. I keep asking myself, ‘What would Andy do?’ That holds me to a standard of which I can be proud. “
“This is the first time I’m bringing the collection to Cardiff, and I’m very much looking forward to sharing my story with visitors and seeing how they react to my work.”
Joshua Clapham, gallery manager at Castle Fine Art, Cardiff, said: “No one can bring the story of After Warhol to life better than Paul himself. From his exceptional subject knowledge, to the many memorable anecdotes about people he’s met along the way, Paul’s is a tale that has to be heard from the man himself.
For more information visit www.castlefineart.com or follow them on Instagram @cardiff_castlefineart