Peter Phillips, a prominent figure in the British Pop Art movement of the 1960s, passed away on June 23 on the Sunshine Coast of Australia at the age of 86. His family announced his death, though no cause was provided. Phillips had been residing in Australia since 2015.
Phillips was part of a new generation of artists who challenged the conservative culture of prewar Britain and the stagnation of the post-World War II recovery. While studying at the Royal College of Art in London in 1961, he drew inspiration from American artists like Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg, who incorporated everyday objects into their work, thereby blurring the lines between high and low culture.
He gained recognition as one of the featured artists in the influential “Young Contemporaries” exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery in London, alongside notable contemporaries such as David Hockney and R.B. Kitaj.
In a past interview, Phillips reflected on the artistic landscape of his youth, noting the limited avenues for English artists to earn a living. He and his peers began to utilize popular imagery in their art, a practice that was initially met with skepticism.
Phillips was known for his bold artistic style, which earned him the nickname "the tough guy" of the London Pop Art scene. His 1961 work “For Men Only — Starring MM and BB” featured images of Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte Bardot alongside other pop culture references.
His prominence was further solidified by his appearance in the 1962 BBC documentary “Pop Goes the Easel,” which showcased his artistic process and philosophy.
Over the years, Phillips's work evolved to reflect the popular culture that inspired it. His 1972 painting “Art-O-Matic Loop Di Loop” became the cover image for the Cars' multiplatinum album “Heartbeat City,” while a portion of his 1961 painting “War/Game” was used by The Strokes for their 2003 album “Room on Fire.”
Born on May 21, 1939, in Bournville, Birmingham, Phillips's early life was marked by the impact of World War II. He studied at the Birmingham College of Art before attending the Royal College of Art in London.
After the “Young Contemporaries” exhibition, Phillips continued to gain recognition, participating in significant exhibitions such as the Paris Biennale in 1963 and the “Nieuwe Realisten” exhibition in The Hague in 1964. He later moved to New York, where he exhibited alongside renowned artists like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.
Throughout his life, Phillips lived in various countries, including Switzerland and Costa Rica, with his wife, Marion-Claude Xylander-Phillips, whom he married in 1970. His artistic style evolved over the decades, transitioning to a more abstract approach in recent years.
Phillips is survived by his daughter Zoe Phillips-Price, a daughter from a previous marriage, and five grandchildren. In recent interviews, he expressed a preference for his newer works over his earlier pieces, stating that he found the term "Pop Art" to be somewhat meaningless.