CityLife

Cartoon hero Ray Lowry comes home

Manchester, by Ray Lowry

SALFORD-born and with no formal art education, Ray Lowry probably never seemed like the kind of lad that would make his name as an illustrator and satirist with some of the biggest names in British publishing.

Despite his humble background Ray was a regular cartoonist for the NME and satirist magazines including Private Eye and Punch, as well as a contributing writer to The Face and The Guardian and he remains best known for his iconic cover design of The Clash’s landmark album London Calling.

But Ray was much more than a cartoonist, and a new retrospective exhibition at Salford Art Gallery brings together a collection of his work – from cover art to oil paintings, photography and abstracts – to illustrate how complete an artist he was.

Julian Williams, trustee of Ray’s work at the See Gallery, Crawshawbooth, and curator of the show, said: “The divide between the popular world of cartoons and the more highbrow world of the art gallery wasn’t something that bothered Ray Lowry. The opportunity to display his work from both ends of the spectrum is what makes this exhibition such an exciting prospect.”

'Expressionistic'

It is just over a year since Ray died suddenly, aged 64, and the exhibition is a fitting tribute to his individual approach to art.
 
The exhibition also gives a unique peek into the breadth of his artistic talent via some of the artist’s own notebooks and a recreation of his studio – complete with ink and paint-stained desk, his favourite LPs and essential inspirational cuttings.
 
There are also several paintings in the show that have not been exhibited publicly before. “Ray’s importance as a painter was not recognised during his life.”
 
Julian added: “Like the cartoons, Ray’s use of paint is often expressionistic and violent – and frequently swirls of paint invade his cartoons or cartoons invade his paintings.”

The exhibition opens on December 5, 2009 at Salford Art Gallery, The Crescent, until March 7, 2010. Free.