Pop Art at Cartwright Hall

Coming Soon to Gallery 5

Pop Art blasted onto the art scene during the 1950s and 60s. It reflected the growth of mass consumerism and advertising and was inspired by popular culture. A key factor was that it embraced new, cheaper methods in printmaking, which made art more accessible.

Cartwright Hall’s story with Pop Art begins in 1968 when it created and staged the First British International Print Biennale. The exhibition was truly international in scope, and the most notable of its kind to showcase the importance of print as a post-war medium, staged anywhere in the UK.

The British International Print Biennale took place at Cartwright Hall on eleven occasions between 1968 and 1990. At its height, it included artists from over 40 countries, showing over 500 works selected from more than 3,000 entries. Selections were made by a committee consisting of artists and museum professionals. The very first biennale poster was designed by David Hockney, who was also involved in the selection of artists. His own involvement with the Pop Art movement encouraged some of the biggest names to exhibit.

The staging of the biennales was a significant achievement and one of its legacies is that works were purchased for Bradford’s art collection. In September 2026, we invite you to learn more about the exhibitions and enjoy some of our greatest prints including Andy Warhol, Roy Licthenstein and Richard Hamilton.