Gang of Four

Presented by private appointment at Optima Contemporary’s Soho viewing room, Gang of Four brought together works by Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Richard Hambleton and Jean-Michel Basquiat. All four artists played an important role in the New York art scene and helped shape the visual culture of their time.

The exhibition took its title from Richard Hambleton’s Gang of Four (2005). A complete set of four hand-signed and numbered screenprints formed the centrepiece of the presentation.

The portfolio was displayed alongside a wide selection of Hambleton originals and editions, giving visitors an opportunity to explore the different stages and styles of his practice.

Other highlights included works from Andy Warhol’s Flowers series, Jean-Michel Basquiat’s King Alphonso, and Keith Haring’s Pyramid and Subway Drawings. Further works by each artist completed the exhibition.

Although their approaches were very different, all four artists were connected to the creative energy of New York. Warhol transformed images from advertising, celebrity and consumer culture into Pop Art. Haring developed a bold visual language that could be understood both in galleries and on the street. Basquiat combined text, symbols, figures and expressive mark-making to explore identity, power and history. Hambleton became known for his striking street interventions and atmospheric figures.

Bringing their work together highlighted the connections between Pop Art, street art, graffiti and Neo-Expressionism. It also showed how the streets, galleries, clubs and communities of New York helped shape a generation of artists.

The appointment-only setting allowed visitors to spend time with the works and view them at close quarters. From the complete Gang of Four portfolio to the wider collection of originals and editions, the exhibition offered a focused look at four artists whose work continues to influence contemporary art and collecting.