Eileen Agar (1899-1991) is a British Surrealist Artist who is famous for her ‘assemblage’ art. She turned everyday life things into astonishing surreal art objects. Her oeuvre spans from painting, collage, photography, sculpture, to ceremonial hats.
“Angel of Anarchy” is the title of her retrospective exhibition that will set to run from 19 May-29 August 2021, at Whitechapel Gallery, London.
This exhibition serves over 150 works of Eileen Agar’s works from the 1920s to the 1990s. She combines her imagination and the imagery from classical art, the natural world, and sexual pleasure to create distinctive artwork.
Eileen Agar, “Angel of Anarchy”, 1936–40, Tate, © The estate of Eileen Agar. https://www.tate.org.uk/
The title of this exhibition was borrowed from one of her works, The Angel of Anarchy. It is a surreal sculpture of a head decorated with feathers, fabric, shells, and many other collage materials. She added a blindfold symbolizes the uncertainty of the time. Agar created this sculpture in 1940, at the beginning of the Second World War.
One of Agar’s inspirations is her mom who has many collections of big hats. Eileen loves to create surreal hats decorated with everyday life objects. Her famous creations are straw hat and glove hat.
Eileen Agar, “Hat With Gloves”, 1936 (made). Given by Mrs Jenny Fraser. Courtesy of Artist. Collection of Victoria and Albert Museum, London. https://collections.vam.ac.uk/
Eileen Agar, “Hat For Eating Bouillabaisse”, 1937 (made). Given by Mrs Jenny Fraser. Courtesy of Artist. Collection of Victoria and Albert Museum, London. https://collections.vam.ac.uk/
Agar was also inspired by the sea. She collected interesting shells and objects on the beach and transformed them into impressive sculptures.
Eileen Agar, “Marine Object”, 1939, Tate © The estate of Eileen Agar. https://www.tate.org.uk/
Eileen Agar is a genuine artist who succeeds to create captivating artworks from everyday life objects.