A new exhibition featuring diverse emerging artists from across the UK and the Baltic states is coming to the London clubhouse next week, Pop Up Creators opens to the public on Tuesday 10 April. The young artists, all under 26 and 80% of whom have English as a second language and/or are BAME, have worked under the guidance of their mentors to produce illustrated graphic stories in a distinct ‘leporello’ (concertina) format.
Co-curated by Pop Up Projects and House of Illustration, the Pop Up Creators exhibition will run from 10 April – 20 May. It will feature the best work from a year-long collaboration between 150 talented young artists from 16 universities and colleges and 18 professional illustrators from across Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and the UK, all funded as part of an Arts Council England international illustration exchange.
Illustrator Axel Scheffler, who has written the foreword for the exhibition, says:
‘Children's books and children's book illustration are perhaps an underestimated means to further cultural exchange. Having illustrated a book (The Gruffalo) that has been, to my own surprise, such an international success – it has been translated into over 70 languages – proves that stories and images have a universal appeal. The body of work resulting from this project impresses in its variety of styles and approaches and I look forward to seeing the further development of these young talents. This artistic exchange, bringing together British and Baltic illustrators and students, against the backdrop of The London Book Fair, is an exemplary attempt to strengthen the dialogue across Europe and can hopefully be repeated in the future.’
Work is already underway to install the artwork around the clubhouse, with the private view on Monday 9 April and the official launch on Tuesday 10 April.