INTRODUCTION

Gilbert & George place themselves, their thoughts, and their feelings at the center of their art, and almost all of the images they use are gathered in the half-mile or so surrounding their home in London’s East End. Yet their pictures capture a far broader human experience, encompassing an astonishing range of emotions and themes, from rural idylls to gritty images of a decaying London; from fantastical, brightly colored panoramas to raw examinations of humanity stripped bare; from sex advertisements to religious fundamentalism.

From the beginning, Gilbert & George wanted to communicate beyond the narrow confines of the art world, adopting the slogan “Art for All.” As a result, they have joined the very small handful of artists to become household names, and their impeccably dressed figures are instantly recognizable to the general public. The retrospective Gilbert & George brings together a selection of pictures that spans their entire forty-year career.

The Milwaukee Art Museum exhibition presents the artists’ large-scale pictures around the core ideas behind the artists’ work. Archival materials, from films and hand-drawn preparatory sketches to books, historical photographs, announcements, and other documentation from throughout their career, complement the exhibition and are located in Pieper Education Gallery.

 

 

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Order the Exhibition Catalogue Softcover, 208 pages with over 200 color illustrations.

CAFÉ CALATRAVA

Indulge. Go ahead—summer is too short! Lunch outdoors on the Café Terrace, savoring seasonal specials and tried-and-true favorites.

 
 
 
 
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