Wild Life: Francis Bacon and Peter Beard, explores the friendship between Francis Bacon (1909–1992) and his long-time friend and muse, the artist Peter Beard (1938–2020) who, despite working on different sides of the world, shared deeply similar personal and creative passions. Beard first met Bacon in 1967, at his exhibition at the Marlborough New London Gallery. The two became friends and admirers of each other’s work and served as one another’s subjects on many occasions over the years.
Organised in collaboration with Peter Beard’s Estate, the exhibition is intended as a celebration of Beard’s life. Works from the period of the two artists’ friendship will be shown side by side for the first time, along with unseen materials from Beard’s archives including letters and photographs gifted to Bacon, and, most importantly, Beard’s diaries, which served as the genesis for his art.
Film
Panel Discussion with Sophie Pretorius, Simon Martin and Pilar Ordovas in partnership with Apollo Magazine for Wild Life: Francis Bacon and Peter Beard. The discussion is moderated by Apollo editor Thomas Marks.
Catalogue
Wild Life
27 x 29 cm (10 5/8 x 11 3/8 in);
96 pages; fully illustrated in colour;
Designed by Sinead Madden, London;
ISBN 978-1-9996681-7-4
£45
Press Articles
The Guardian
the horror safari: why was Francis Bacon so triggered by dead elephants?
7 April 2021
The Times
10 top galleries — and what you can buy at them
5 April 2020
The Art Newspaper
Lockdown easing: the best gallery shows to see in London right now
12 April 2021
Apollo
Animal Instinct
1 March 2021
Prospect
Trapping the Beats
1 March 2021
Peter Beard Studio
Wild Life: Francis Bacon and Peter Beard
January 2021
The Estate of Francis Bacon
Monthly Update
February 2021
Judith Benhamou Reports
Francis Bacon and Peter Beard: an unlikely friendship takes the form of an exhibition in London
25 May 2021
The Eye of Photography
Ordovas: Francis Bacon & Peter Beard: Wild Life
30 April 2021
Dazed
Wild Life: Francis Bacon and Peter Beard
26 April 2021
Artdaily
Wild Life: Exhibition of works by Francis Bacon and Peter Beard on view at Ordovas
1 May 2021
The Guardian
Rachel Whiteread's world of interiors and Francis Bacon's dead elephants - the week in Art
April 2021
Provokr
Peter Beard + Francis Bacon, Their Friendship and Shared Creativity
11 February 2021
GalleriesNow
'Wild Life: Francis Bacon and Peter Beard'
12 April 2021
Taschen
Peter Beard
1 March 2021
Artbrowser
Wild Life
January 2021
Cheerio
Wild Life at Ordovas Gallery
June 2021
Cheerio
Newsletter
20 January 2021
Les Echos
Francis Bacon/ Peter Beard, Le Dialogue Inattendu
1 April 2021
POV International
'Wild Life: Francis Bacon and Peter Beard – Når Naturen Kalde'
9 April 2021
