In 1954 artists Nigel Henderson and Eduardo Paolozzi formed a creative partnership under the company name of Hammer Prints Limited. Over the course of the next seven years, the two artists established a commercial venture, collaboratively designing patterns and working with industry specialists to produce wallpapers, fabrics, ceramic tiles, furniture and tableware using their designs.This new book is published by firstsite on the occasion of the exhibition Nigel Henderson & Eduardo Paolozzi: Hammer Prints Limited (8 December 2012 – 3 March 2013). Based on original research, the exhibition charts the history of Hammer Prints within the context of their broader artistic output and other collaborations such as the exhibitions, Parallel of Life and Art (Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, 1953) and This is Tomorrow (Whitechapel Art Gallery, London, 1956).The publication documents original exhibition research, features contributions from leading experts including firstsite curator Michelle Cotton, Eduardo Paolozzi's biographer Robin Spencer, design historian Lesley Jackson, and includes full colour reproductions of the Hammer designs and artwork alongside hitherto unseen working material.

Eduardo Paolozzi (1924-2005) was one of the most innovative and irreverent British artists of the 20th century. Considered the 'godfather' of Pop Art', his powerful sculptures, prints and collages challenged mid-century British modernism by drawing on mass culture, science fiction and industrial design. Accompanying the first major international retrospective of Paolozzi's work since 1975, this publication presents a fresh and comprehensive overview of his work, highlighting not only his unique position as one of Britain's most dynamic, versatile and pugilistic artists, but also the relevance of his work today.

"Chronicles how this landmark exhibition was put together, how it looked, and how it was received ... With twenty-one new color images and a completely updated catalogue raisonné of all the paintings, sculptures, and prints in the original show"--Cover.

Essay by Wendy Weitman.

A major retrospective of the work of Eduardo Paolozzi (1924-2005), one of the most inventive and prolific of the British artists to come to prominence after the Second World War. Featuring around 150 works in a variety of media, the exhibition will explore the extraordinary versatility of Paolozzi's approach to making art and the central importance of collage as a working process within his career, not only in the traditional sense of paper collage, but also in terms of sculptural assemblage, printmaking and filmmaking

An intriguing and vibrant study of an innovative and lesser-known facet of contemporart art. Identifies significant strategies exploited by European artists to extend their aesthetic vision within the mediums of prints, books and multiples. Exploring commercial techniques, confrontational approaches and language and the expressionist impulse. Showcases the creativity being channelled into printed art by todays generation.

Pop Art Book is a vibrant celebration of one of the twentieth century's most important and enduring art movements. Showcasing pieces by major artists including Andy Warhol, Peter Blake, Roy Lichtenstein and Eduardo Paolozzi, as well as previously unheralded works by important figures such as Pauline Boty, one of the few female pop artists, this book is a must-have for anyone interested in modern art. A bold and exciting take on the movement, Pop Art Book explores Pop Art through themes including popular culture, consumerism, literature and politics. It is the first book on Pop Art to take an interactive approach to the subject, including stickers and pop-ups that encourage the reader to take a playful and creative attitude towards the movement. Combining visual excitement with substantial academic reflection, Pop Art Book provides a profound insight into the historical background behind this kaleidoscopic art-form, relating the movement to the major events of the era such as the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement and the assassination of JFK. Accessibly written and great fun, this book offers an exciting way of learning to the uninitiated, as well as providing connoisseurs with a new take on the movement. Pop Art Book is published in conjunction with major exhibitions supported by the Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

"Drawing on the V & A's magnificent collection of 20th-century prints, this concise history of printmaking is presented through the work of internationally renowned artists. Each year of the [20th] century is represented by a print or set of prints, revealing the versatility of the medium and offering insights into the development of different techniques. From etchings and woodblock prints to abstract lithographs and screenprints, this book shows how artists have been pushing forward the boundaries of the fine art print over the last 100 years."--Back cover.

Volume covers the Collection of Prints and Illustrated Books, not the collection of artists' books.