Tristan Hoare and Orson Fry are delighted to present a talk and exhibition by British illustrator and designer Antony Little. Renowned for his designs for the iconic sixties boutiques Biba and Hung on You, Antony also co-founded the luxury wallpaper and fabric company Osborne & Little. This exhibition, curated by Orson Fry, was a unique opportunity to hear about Antony’s creative life in his own words.
The Swinging Sixties was a busy time for Antony Little. Whether he was creating the famous shopfronts for Barbara Hulanicki’s Biba or Michael Rainey’s Hung on You, producing striking wallpaper designs for his Chelsea showroom, or set-designing John Aspinall’s decadent feasts at The Clermont Club, Antony was one of London’s most sought-after designers in this colourful decade. His bold style and singular abilities as a draughtsman placed him at the forefront of the Art Nouveau movement which was then experiencing a revival.
In 1967 Antony was approached to illustrate an edition of short stories by the French surrealist poet Guillaume Apollinaire. He combined his draughtsmanship and rich imagination to deliver sixteen exquisite black and white illustrations in the manner of Aubrey Beardsley. Expressing the macabre, outrageous, witty, and erotic nature of the stories, they became wonderful works of art in their own right.
For this exhibition, Antony's original drawings were on display for the first time, alongside portraits of key figures from Antony's circle, including Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, and Antony's wife Jennifer. A selection of 7 larger limited-edition prints signed by the artist are still available to purchase. The story of Antony's life as an artist, as told through sketchbooks and photos, supported the work on view and provided an intimate and timely glimpse into his life and the creative imagination of Britain during the era.
Accompanying the exhibition is extended online viewing room.