The Picker House was designed in 1968 by architect Kenneth Wood for Stanley Picker to live amongst his growing collection of art and design objects. The immaculately preserved home, undisturbed since Stanley’s death in 1982, has now become the subject for a series of artistic projects that reflect upon the house and its collection more than a quarter of a century since Picker himself occupied the property.
The Occupants celebrates the home in its unadulterated yet delicate state, providing contemporary perspectives that interpret and challenge our evolving understanding of the social, historical and cultural values of the property, its architecture and its collection.
The exhibition includes new photographic studies of Picker House interiors by artist Bridget Smith, sculptural interventions by Cullinan Richards and Andy Holden, a text-based work by Tom Morton and a collaborative piece with Matthew Darbyshire, and a re-staging of 2012 Turner Prize nominee Elizabeth Price’s Stanley Picker Fellowship piece At the House of Mr X.
For his current Stanley Picker Fellowship artist Matthew Darbyshire has developed a new site-specific work for the venue exterior, using printed architectural hoardings to create a temporary ‘site-wrap’ that redirects public access into the building; addressing the venue’s earnest aspirations for its refurbishment, whilst subtly parodying the clichés of its suburban location.
The Occupants presents ephemera and period photographs of the Picker House from the Stanley Picker Trust archives and is accompanied by the UK publication launch of Stanley Picker Fellowship commission A Day in the Life of Ernesto Bones by Ab Rogers Design and a new short film by Fiona Fisher and Gilly Booth/hijack about Kenneth Wood’s wider career which can be viewed on the Stanley Picker Trust page of this website.
The exhibition marks the publication launch of The Stanley Picker House and Collection: A Late 1960s Home for Modern Art and Design by Jonathan Black, David Falkner, Fiona Fisher, Fran Lloyd, Rebecca Preston and Penny Sparke. Published by Philip Wilson Publishers this book is the first publication dedicated to the extraordinary private house and art collection of the founder of the Stanley Picker Trust.
Event: Wed 21 Nov 2pm. Free Entry. All Welcome
Matthew Darbyshire Stanley Picker Fellowship Lecture
Venue: Main Lecture Theatre, Knights Park Campus, Kingston University
Darbyshire discusses his wider practice and recent Stanley Picker Fellowship commission currently showing as part of The Occupants: Contemporary Perspectives on the Picker House.