Clyde Hopkins (1946-2018)
The Early 1980s
PRIVATE VIEW | THURSDAY 1 MAY, 6-8 PM
EXHIBITION DATES | 2 MAY - 6 JUNE 2025
ALICE BLACK
7 WINDMILL ST
LONDON, W1T 2JD
“…looking up at the twilight sky of early spring in South East London, the window frames three elements – the evening star, a cloud illuminated by the setting sun, a fading vapour trail. The relative position of these three elements, light or dark against the luminous cold blue space of the sky, changes slowly. The world turns gracefully, inexorably; the wind blows high in space."
CLYDE HOPKINS (1946-2018)From the Introduction to the exhibition Touch at Chelsea Futurespace, 2007.
ALICE BLACK is delighted to announce Clyde Hopkins (1946-2018): The Early 1980s, which will open with a private view on 1 May 2025 (6-8pm) at the gallery’s Fitzrovia space in London. All welcome!
Clyde Hopkins (1946–2018) stands as a towering yet undercelebrated artistic force, bridging the gap between post-war British abstraction and the vanguard of contemporary painting. His groundbreaking 1986 exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery in London, alongside Frank Bowling (b. 1934), marked a high point in his early career. However, it is only in recent years that Hopkins' legacy has garnered renewed attention, with significant acquisitions by institutions such as Tate and Hepworth Wakefield (UK). This exhibition revisits a critical period in Hopkins’ career, the early 1980s, offering a fresh opportunity through which to explore his pivotal role in the evolution of 20th and 21st Century abstraction.
Born in East Sussex in 1946, Hopkins studied Fine Art at the University of Reading in the 1960s, where he met his future wife, painter Marilyn Hallam. Throughout his career, Hopkins worked in studios across Greenwich, Deptford, and St Leonards, exhibiting internationally for over four decades. His early work, marked by vigorous brushstrokes and dynamic compositions, was deeply influenced by Abstract Expressionism. Over time, Hopkins style evolved to include structured forms and vibrant colour palettes, blending the emotive power of post-war abstraction with emerging contemporary sensibilities.
This exhibition highlights a selection of Hopkins’ paintings from the early 1980s, capturing the energy and intensity of a decade marked by political unrest and social upheaval. The bold, expressive nature of his work resonated deeply with contemporaneous audiences, providing a powerful visual reflection of the period’s dissent and anarchy. Today, over four decades later, these works offer a fresh opportunity for reassessment, inviting renewed appreciation for their performative energy, immersive qualities, and emotional depth.
Beyond Hopkins’ singular artistic contributions born of the studio, he played a significant role in art education. As Head of Painting at Winchester School of Art from 1982 to 1990 and later as Emeritus Professor at Chelsea College of Art until 2006, he mentored a generation of artists, fostering an environment where traditional techniques met modern experimentation. Today, his influence is evident in the works of contemporary painters including Pam Evelyn, Tim Stoner and Francesca Mollett, who echo Hopkins’ synthesis of gestural abstraction and emotive composition.
As contemporary art history unfolds in real-time, the story of British abstraction is still being told. Its untapped richness is traceable through ‘known unknowns’ such as Hopkins, whose work links the post-war period with the present day.
Clyde Hopkins (1946-2018): The Early 1980s will be on view through 6 June 2025 at ALICE BLACK, 7 Windmill St, London, W1T 2JD. We would like to extend special thanks to Marilyn Hallam, the Hopkins Estate and Blackbird Rook.
Alice Black
Clyde Hopkins (1946-2018): The Early 1980s
Thursday 1 May – Friday 6 June 2025
ALICE BLACK, 7 Windmill St, London, W1T 2JD
Wednesday – Friday, 11am-5pm. Saturday, 12pm – 5pm & by appointment.