Café exhibition by Print Fair Prize winner, Tall Paul Kelly, now open at The Hepworth Wakefield
07 Oct 2024
An exhibition of screen-printed posters by Saltaire-based artist, Tall Paul Kelly – this year's recipient of the gallery’s Print Fair Prize – is now on display in The Hepworth Wakefield café.
Paul began his poster series, which depict locations in Yorkshire and beyond, during lockdown when he moved back to West Yorkshire from London. His posters draw on the timeless charm of tourism posters and commercial art in general, with bold colours, striking compositions and evocative imagery that transport viewers to another place. Paul enjoys adding hidden visual puns to his designs to capture the essence of a place, inviting viewers to discover the magic within the landscape.
Paul said: ‘Yorkshire is a place brimming with pride for its landscape. But too often, it feels like our county gets ignored. The prints are my way of celebrating the places I loved as a kid and continue to dazzle me as an adult. It seemed fitting to give something back. I want my posters to grab your attention and encourage you to get out of the city and breathe in some nature. I’m over the moon to win the Print Fair Prize and showcase my work at The Hepworth Wakefield. The gallery and its stunning garden are always a source of inspiration so having my art displayed there is an honour. It’s more than an exhibition though – it’s a nod to the gallery’s commitment to nurturing emerging artists like myself, making it a true gem of the north.’
Now in its fifth year, the Print Fair Prize is open to all artists and collectives participating in The Hepworth Wakefield Print Fair (which takes place every March) and was devised as part of the gallery’s work to support artists at all stages of their career.
Paul’s screen-printed posters, including a new limited edition exclusive to the gallery, are available to purchase from The Hepworth Wakefield and online at hepworthwakefield.org/shop.
To celebrate the opening of Paul’s exhibition, Castleford’s Lost Cause Brewing Co. have brewed a Helles lager exclusively for the The Hepworth Wakefield – with Paul’s illustration of The Hepworth Wakefield and the gallery’s resident heron, Patrick, featured on the can. The Helles larger is available to drink in The Hepworth Wakefield café or can be purchased from the gallery shop to drink at home.
You can view more of Tall Paul Kelly’s work on his website.
Tall Paul Kelly
The Hepworth Wakefield café
20 Sept 2024 – July 2025
FREE
