Peter Blake shares artistic message of hope for London

Pop Art legend, Peter Blake has created a new work of art to unite Londoners in the face of Covid-19, with a message that speaks to everyone across the globe.

Blake’s artwork captures the spirit of standing together whilst we have to be physically apart.

Taking the rainbow as its central image, a motif that has quickly become a symbol of hope, with children placing their drawings in windows across the world, Blake’s artwork is featured as the back cover of today’s Evening Standard, allowing people to repurpose the newspaper page as a poster of their own.

Blake has created the work from his home and studio, where he, like many of us, is currently in self-isolation, commenting, ‘I have carried on working, and as all appointments have been postponed, work is less interrupted than usual’.

As a further encouragement to people during this time, Peter notes that ‘to make art would certainly be positive. It is time consuming and we certainly need to fill time, it is calming and you can work with very simple tools, a pencil & paper, which everyone has, would suffice’.

In lieu of the commission, the Evening Standard has made a charitable donation in Peter Blake’s name, to The Graeae Theatre Company, Bradbury Studios, London, a charity of Blake’s choice, which supports disabled actors and is a lifeline to them all.