The Major Periods
1962 – 1965: Early Pop Paintings
As one of the original wave of Pop artists Gerald Laing produced some of the most significant works of the British Pop movement. His paintings reproduced images of popular heroes such as starlets, film stars, drag racers, astronauts and skydivers. His 1962 portrait of Brigitte Bardot is an iconic work of the period and regularly features in major Pop retrospectives alongside Lincoln Convertible from 1964, a commemoration of the assassination of JFK.
1965 – 1970: Utopian Abstract Sculpture
From 1965 Gerald Laing's painting evolved into abstract sculptures using the techniques and materials of car customisation - lacquering, spray-painting and chrome-plating on metal.
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1970 – 1973: Sculpture In The Landscape
A move from New York to the Highlands of Scotland in 1970 saw Gerald Laing's sculpture respond to the beauty, roughness and power of the surrounding landscape.
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1972 – 2010: Public Sculpture
Public sculptures include the the Bank Station Dragons; the Rugby Sculptures at Twickenham Stadium; the Cricketer at Lords; the Highland Clearances Memorial in Helmsdale, Sutherland and Axis Mundi in Edinburgh.
1973 – 1980: Galina Series
Inspired by the figurative sculpture of the First World War Artillery Memorial at Hyde Park Corner, in 1973 Gerald Laing began to model in clay and cast in bronze. The Galina Series and associated sculptures were his first works from this period.
1982 – 2007: Portrait Heads
Gerald Laing's portrait work includes heads and reliefs of Luciano Pavarotti, Andy Warhol, Paul Getty and Sam Wanamaker.
2002 – 2005: War Paintings
The Iraq war and the publication of images of torture at Abu Ghraib prison drew Gerald Laing back to painting for the first time in over three decades. The War Paintings series sees the starlets and all-American heroes of his early paintings take on new, more sinister roles.
2004 – 2011: New Paintings
Returning to the style and subject matter of his early pop art paintings, Gerald Laing's latest paintings feature media images of contemporary celebrities including Amy Winehouse and Kate Moss.
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Raven
Artists CR 594
October - November 2001
Bronze on rock, stone plinth
Clan Donald Centre, Skye
Provenance: .
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The Wormsley Sundial
Artists CR 595
2000
Portland stone and bronze
72inches/183cm, height
Collection: Private collection
Provenance: .
Literature: Mark Lennox-Boyd, Sundials: History, Art, People, Science, 2006; Gerald Laing: Sculpture at Chisenbury Priory, 2002.
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Portrait of Alison Urquhart
Artists CR 596
Summer 2001
Bronze
, Life-size
Collection: Private collection
Provenance: .
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Unicorn for Mercat Cross, Maquette
Artists CR 597
January - February 2002
Bronze (Edition of 10)
11x3.5x5.75inches/28x9x15cm
Collection: Artist's estate
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Maquette for Mercat Cross
Artists CR 597b
2002
Kinkell, Scotland
Mixed media
51x21x21inches/130x53x53cm
Collection: Artist's estate
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One-third-scale Unicorn for Mercat Cross
Artists CR 598
2002
Bronze
36x21x12inches/91x53x30cm
Collection: Artist's estate
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Clearances Sculpture Figure Group at 40 Inch Height
Artists CR 599
Summer 2002
Bronze
40x38x22inches/102x97x56cm
Collection: Artist's estate
Literature: Eric Richards, Debating the Highland Clearances, 2007, p.23; The Clearances Project, The Clearances Project, 2002; Gerald Laing, The Highland Clearance Sculpture, Helmsdale - Proposal, 2002.
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Falcon Square Mercat Cross
Artists CR 600
2002
Kinkell, Scotland
Bronze, Clarsach stone obelisk
444inches/1128cm, height
Collection: Private Collection
Literature: Exhibiting Close to Home, , Ross-shire Journal, 2002; Gerald Laing, Mercat Cross Unveiling: 28th May 2003, 2003; Susan Mansfield, Why I Said Goodbye to Warhol, , Scotsman, 2002; Royal & Sun Alliance, The Falcon Square Mercat Cross, 2003, pp.3-5.
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The Emigrants
Artists CR 601–2
2004
Kinkell, Scotland
Bronze
117inches/297cm, height
Collection: Private Collection
Provenance: .
Literature: Eric Richards, Debating the Highland Clearances, 2007, p.23; James Hunter, Set Adrift Upon the World: The Sutherland Clearances, 2015; Gerald Laing, The Highland Clearance Sculpture, Helmsdale - Proposal, 2002.
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Drover and Bull (preliminary maquette)
Artists CR 603
December 2003
Bronze, MDF and Plywood
4x5.25x3.25inches/10x13x8cm
Collection: Artist's estate
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Tryscorer Maquette for Twickenham Shop
Artists CR 605
March 2004
Bronze, wood base (Edition of 500)
Collection: Private Collection
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The Arrow Hides Behind Its Point (Emma with Cupid)
Artists CR 605a
2004
Scotland
Oil on canvas
48x60inches/122x152cm
Collection: Artist's estate
Provenance: .
Exhibitions: Gerald Laing: From 1963 to the Present, Bourne Fine Art, Edinburgh, 2004
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Kaufen Macht Frei
Artists CR 605b
2004
A and K
Oil on canvas
73x41inches/185x104cm
Collection: Artist's estate
Provenance: .
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The Silent Sullen People Shall Weigh Your Gods and You (Plaster Relief)
Artists CR 606a
2004
Kinkell
Plaster
31.5x23.5inches/80x60cm
Collection: Artist's estate
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The Silent Sullen People Shall Weigh Your Gods and You
Artists CR 606b
2004
Scotland
Oil on canvas
60x48inches/152x122cm
Provenance: Private collection;.
Exhibitions: Gerald Laing: From 1963 to the Present, Bourne Fine Art, Edinburgh, 2004; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Kings College, Cambridge, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Spike Gallery, New York, 2005
Literature: Gerald Laing: From 1963 to the Present, 2004; Keith Bruce, All Fired Up Again, , Herald, 2004; Jeremy Watson, ‘Immoral’ War Inspires Art Legend, , Scotland on Sunday, 2004; Gerald Laing, Artist’s Notes on War Paintings, 2004; Iain Gale, Pop Goes the American Illusion, , Scotland on Sunday, 2004.
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Only One of Them Uses Colgate
Artists CR 607
2004
Kinkell, Scotland
Oil on canvas
32x36inches/81x91cm
Collection: Artist's estate
Provenance: .
Exhibitions: Gerald Laing: From 1963 to the Present, Bourne Fine Art, Edinburgh, 2004; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Kings College, Cambridge, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Spike Gallery, New York, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Galerie Salvador, Paris, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Globe Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, 2007
Literature: Gerald Laing: From 1963 to the Present, 2004; Keith Bruce, All Fired Up Again, , Herald, 2004; Mark Sheerin, Pop Art, politics and painting the Iraq war: Culture24 interviews artist Gerald Laing, , Culture24.org.uk, 2010; Gerald Laing, Artist’s Notes on War Paintings, 2004; Iain Gale, Pop Goes the American Illusion, , Scotland on Sunday, 2004.
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American Gothic
Artists CR 608
2004
Scotland
Oil on canvas
36x32inches/91x81cm
Provenance: Private collection;.
Exhibitions: Gerald Laing: From 1963 to the Present, Bourne Fine Art, Edinburgh, 2004; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Kings College, Cambridge, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Spike Gallery, New York, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Globe Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, 2007
Literature: Gerald Laing: From 1963 to the Present, 2004; David Eb, Gerald Laing at Spike, , Art in America, 2005; Gerald Laing 1936–2011: A Retrospective, 2016; Gerald Laing, Artist’s Notes on War Paintings, 2004.
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L’Après Midi D’un Faune
Artists CR 609
2004
Kinkell, Scotland
Oil on canvas
32x36inches/81x91cm
Collection: Artist's estate
Provenance: .
Exhibitions: Gerald Laing: From 1963 to the Present, Bourne Fine Art, Edinburgh, 2004; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Kings College, Cambridge, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Spike Gallery, New York, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Globe Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, 2007
Literature: Gerald Laing: From 1963 to the Present, 2004; Gerald Laing, Artist’s Notes on War Paintings, 2004.
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Caryatid
Artists CR 610
2004
Scotland
Oil on canvas
36x32inches/91x81cm
Provenance: Private collection;.
Exhibitions: Gerald Laing: From 1963 to the Present, Bourne Fine Art, Edinburgh, 2004; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Kings College, Cambridge, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Spike Gallery, New York, 2005
Literature: Gerald Laing, Artist’s Notes on War Paintings, 2004.
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Awe Shucks
Artists CR 611
2004
Kinkell, Scotland
Oil on canvas
48x70inches/122x178cm
Collection: Artist's estate
Provenance: .
Exhibitions: Gerald Laing: From 1963 to the Present, Bourne Fine Art, Edinburgh, 2004; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Kings College, Cambridge, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Spike Gallery, New York, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Galerie Salvador, Paris, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Globe Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, 2007; Gerald Laing 1936–2011: A Retrospective, The Fine Art Society, London, 2016
Literature: Keith Bruce, All Fired Up Again, , Herald, 2004; David Eb, Gerald Laing at Spike, , Art in America, 2005; Gerald Laing 1936–2011: A Retrospective, 2016; Gerald Laing, Artist’s Notes on War Paintings, 2004.
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The New American Tourist
Artists CR 612
2005
Kinkell, Scotland
Oil on canvas
36x32inches/91x81cm
Collection: Artist's estate
Provenance: .
Exhibitions: Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Galerie Salvador, Paris, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Globe Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, 2007; Gerald Laing 1936–2011: A Retrospective, The Fine Art Society, London, 2016
Literature: Gerald Laing 1936–2011: A Retrospective, 2016; Gerald Laing, Artist’s Notes on War Paintings, 2004.
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US on Top
Artists CR 613
2004
Scotland
Oil on canvas
36x32inches/91x81cm
Provenance: Private collection;.
Exhibitions: Gerald Laing: From 1963 to the Present, Bourne Fine Art, Edinburgh, 2004; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Kings College, Cambridge, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Spike Gallery, New York, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Globe Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, 2007
Literature: Gerald Laing, Artist’s Notes on War Paintings, 2004.
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Study for Look Mickey
Artists CR 614
2005
Kinkell
Oil on canvas
36x32inches/91x81cm
Collection: Private collection
Provenance: (Galerie Salvador, Paris) Private Collection;.
Exhibitions: Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Kings College, Cambridge, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Galerie Salvador, Paris, 2005
Literature: Gerald Laing, Artist’s Notes on War Paintings, 2004.
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Study for Homage to Josef Albers
Artists CR 615
2005
Kinkell, Scotland
Oil on Canvas
32x36inches/81x91cm
Collection: Private collection
Provenance: (Galerie Salvador, Paris) Private Collection;.
Exhibitions: Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Kings College, Cambridge, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Galerie Salvador, Paris, 2005
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Look Mickey
Artists CR 615
2005
Kinkell, Scotland
Oil on canvas
72x64inches/183x163cm
Collection: Artist's estate
Exhibitions: Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Spike Gallery, New York, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Globe Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, 2007
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Capriccio
Artists CR 616
2005
Scotland
Oil on canvas
72x64inches/183x163cm
Collection: Artist's estate
Provenance: .
Exhibitions: Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Spike Gallery, New York, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Globe Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, 2007
Literature: Diana Newall/Grant Pooke, Art History: The Basics, 2008, p.172-173; Gerald Laing, Artist’s Notes on War Paintings, 2004.
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Study for Capriccio
Artists CR 616
2005
Scotland
Oil on canvas
36x32inches/91x81cm
Collection: Private collection
Provenance: .
Exhibitions: Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Kings College, Cambridge, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Galerie Salvador, Paris, 2005
Literature: Diana Newall/Grant Pooke, Art History: The Basics, 2008, p.172-173; Mark Sheerin, Pop Art, politics and painting the Iraq war: Culture24 interviews artist Gerald Laing, , Culture24.org.uk, 2010.
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Repetition
Artists CR 617
2005
Scotland
Oil on canvas
36x32inches/91x81cm
Council of National Army Museum, London (accession number NAM. 2007-09-14)
Provenance: .
Exhibitions: Gerald Laing: From 1963 to the Present, Bourne Fine Art, Edinburgh, 2004; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Kings College, Cambridge, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Spike Gallery, New York, 2005
Literature: Gerald Laing, Artist’s Notes on War Paintings, 2004.
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See What Beauty He Hath Wrought
Artists CR 618
2005
Scotland
Oil on canvas
32x36inches/81x91cm
Collection: Artist's estate
Provenance: .
Exhibitions: Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Spike Gallery, New York, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Globe Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, 2007
Literature: Mark Sheerin, Pop Art, politics and painting the Iraq war: Culture24 interviews artist Gerald Laing, , Culture24.org.uk, 2010; Gerald Laing, Artist’s Notes on War Paintings, 2004.
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Bull for Dingwall Marker
Artists CR 619
March 2005
Kinkell
Bronze
17.75x27.5x13.75inches/45x70x35cm
Collection: Private collection
Provenance: .
Literature: Gerald Laing, Written for the Unveiling of The Dingwall Marker: A Sculpture by Gerald Laing, 2006.
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Truth or Consequences
Artists CR 620
2006
Scotland
Oil on wood
49.5x104x3.25inches/126x264x8cm
Collection: Artist's estate
Provenance: .
Exhibitions: Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Globe Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, 2007
Literature: Gerald Laing: New Paintings for Modern Times, 2008; Michael McNay, Gerald Laing obituary, , Guardian, 2011.
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Common Decency
Artists CR 621
2005
Kinkell, Scotland
Oil on canvas
32x36inches/81x91cm
Provenance: Private collection;.
Exhibitions: Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Galerie Salvador, Paris, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Globe Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, 2007
Literature: Gerald Laing, Artist’s Notes on War Paintings, 2004.
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Only One of Them Uses Colgate II
Artists CR 622
2005
Kinkell, Scotland
Oil on canvas
32x36inches/81x91cm
Provenance: Private collection, 2005?;.
Exhibitions: Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Galerie Salvador, Paris, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Globe Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, 2007
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Chevelere Assigne
Artists CR 623
2005
Scotland
Oil on canvas
36x32inches/91x81cm
Provenance: Private collection;.
Exhibitions: Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Galerie Salvador, Paris, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Globe Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, 2007
Literature: Gerald Laing, Artist’s Notes on War Paintings, 2004.
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They Make a Desert and Call it Democracy
Artists CR 624
2005
Kinkell, Scotland
Oil on canvas
32x36inches/81x91cm
Provenance: Private collection;.
Exhibitions: Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Galerie Salvador, Paris, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Globe Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, 2007
Literature: Gerald Laing, Artist’s Notes on War Paintings, 2004.
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The Great War Leader - Homage to Jean Paul Goude
Artists CR 625
2005
Scotland
Oil on canvas
36x60inches/91x152cm
Provenance: Private collection;.
Exhibitions: Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Galerie Salvador, Paris, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Globe Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, 2007
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Catechism
Artists CR 626
2005
Scotland
Oil on canvas
120x60inches/305x152cm
Collection: Artist's estate
Provenance: .
Exhibitions: Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Kings College, Cambridge, 2005; Gerald Laing: Iraq War Paintings, Spike Gallery, New York, 2005; Gerald Laing 1936–2011: A Retrospective, The Fine Art Society, London, 2016
Literature: David Eb, Gerald Laing at Spike, , Art in America, 2005; Mark Sheerin, Pop Art, politics and painting the Iraq war: Culture24 interviews artist Gerald Laing, , Culture24.org.uk, 2010; Gerald Laing 1936–2011: A Retrospective, 2016; Gerald Laing, Artist’s Notes on War Paintings, 2004.
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Reprise of Lotus I
Artists CR 627
2006
Kinkell
Oil on canvas
45x56inches/114x142cm
Collection: Artist's estate
Provenance: .
Exhibitions: Gerald Laing 1936–2011: A Retrospective, The Fine Art Society, London, 2016
Literature: Gerald Laing 1936–2011: A Retrospective, 2016.
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Homage to Josef Albers
Artists CR 629
February 2007
London
Oil on canvas
64x72inches/163x183cm
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Study for The Lowing Herd Winds Slowly O’er the Lea
Artists CR 630
2007
Kinkell
Oil on canvas
36x32inches/91x81cm
Collection: Artist's estate
Provenance: .
Exhibitions: Gerald Laing: New Paintings for Modern Times, ocontemporary Gallery, London, 2008
Literature: Gerald Laing: New Paintings for Modern Times, 2008.
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