KELPRA: Artists & Printmakers 2 Spotlight on Joe Tilson
By KELPRA
Spotlight on Joe Tilson
Following on from last year’s highly successful original prints exhibition “Kelpra: Artists and Printmakers” at the Ulster Museum, Belfast, Seacourt Print Workshop is hosting a series of further exhibitions examining in more detail the printmaking of selected artists included in the Kelpra show. This year we are focussing on the prints of the renowned British artist, Joe Tilson (1928-2023).
Tilson was an artist widely recognised and respected for his work in wood, sculpture, painting and printmaking strongly associated with the British Pop Art movement in the early 1960s. He later moved away from brightly coloured geometric prints (9) notably ziggurats, and the use of consumerist imagery (22, 23) to explore fundamental themes including political engagement, environmentalism, ancient cultures and traditions.
Political Engagement
Tilson’s work in the late 1960s and early 1970s increasingly reflected his political concerns and his opposition to all forms of authoritarianism. He created art responding to major political movements and world events of the period (6) including opposition to the Vietnam War (7). His works also featured revolutionary figures such as Che Guevara (8) and Ho Chi Minh and included radical political texts of that era. He often made use of added and collaged elements, striking colours and bold typography to enhance these images.
Environmental Concerns
During the 1970s Tilson became increasingly disenchanted with the political establishment, the London based art scene and a lack of rigour and depth in the Pop Art movement. In 1972 he moved his family to live in the Wiltshire countryside not far from Stonehenge and, from then onward, his work shifted dramatically towards the natural world, the environment and ecological concerns. Inspired by his time in Wiltshire and also in Tuscany where he had a home, he developed a deep appreciation for organic materials. His artwork frequently incorporated wood, stone, and other raw materials (18), emphasising harmony between human creativity and the natural world. His works often reference the elements of fire, water, earth and air (14,17) seasonal cycles, ancient traditions and rituals (16) and the fragile relationship between humanity and the environment.
Ancient Civilizations & Mythology
Tilson had long been fascinated with ancient cultures, particularly classical mythology, pre-Christian symbolism, and alchemical traditions. His art often features references to Greek mythology (4, 11, 21), esoteric symbols, and sacred geometry. He drew on ancient texts and philosophical ideas, including ‘Alcheringa’ (15) the spiritual concepts of the Aboriginal Australians, which infused his work with a sense of timeless wisdom and deep connection with the past.
Tilson was also deeply inspired by living in the Tuscan countryside for a part of each year. His experiences there, and of the rich cultural environment of Italy, had a profound influence on him resulting in a shift towards a more textured, organic style. His artworks from this period often incorporate natural materials like wood and stone, the ferric oxide earth pigments of ochre and sienna (18) and vibrant colours and symbolic motifs (19) drawn from Italian culture, Renaissance art, and classical mythology.
This later phase of Tilson’s work highlights his continuing fascination with the environment, place, memory, and the enduring legacy of ancient artistic traditions. By exploring such themes and concepts Tilson’s art avoids shallow aesthetics and engages deeply with issues of society, nature and the environment. His artworks continue to reflect these fundamental concerns, making his art especially relevant to the present.
Edward Ferguson
March 2025
Recommended reading
TILSON – The Printed Works -1963-2009 – Enzo Di Martino – Royal Academy of Arts publication – 2010
JOE TILSON – Marco Livingston – Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd – 2023
TILSON – Pop to Present – Royal Academy of Arts publication – 2002
