Peter Clark profile

Peter Clark Profile

“I really love Peter’s work – it’s so full of fun and creativity, using things he’s found; maps, letters, stamps, and then creating finished work that has a real sensitivity.” Paul Smith, fashion designer

Originally an illustrator and designer, Peter Clark now uses a collection of various papers to form all kinds of patterned, textured artwork. The London-based artist creates collages of everything from trophies, to animals, to clothing.

Old maps, love letters, stamps, playing cards, match boxes, rosettes, buttons, labels, patterns, all form the starting point of Peter Clark's innovative and often humorous paper collages. Clark undertakes many scavenger trips to antiques fair, car-boot sales, bric-a-brac markets and second hand stores to find the right objects to inspire him. Paperwork presents the working methods of this eccentric and unique artist, showing the progression of his work from found ephemera (printed matter) to pieces of art. Clark's most recognised work are the series of dogs, from Spaniels to Bulldogs, and clothes, from a dress out of old Ordnance Survey maps to a Hell's Angels jacket made of old bibles and prayers books.

Using found paper as his palette, artist Peter Clark creates intricate three-dimensional collages. He shades with density of print and creates substance and movement with lines plucked from old maps or manuscripts he finds in antique shops. Clark’s pieces are innovative as he utilizes the patterns and textures in a humorous way. Peter focuses much of his expertise on creating dog collage portraits, however his clothing and people portraits are equally incredible. He shades with density of print and creates substance and movement with lines plucked from old maps or manuscripts. His pieces use mark-making in an innovative and humorous way to create pieces of art.

Although most celebrated for his images of dogs, Clark's subject matter extends across the whole animal kingdom (horses, tigers, bulls, pigs, zebras, fish) - and far beyond it, to include suits, tutus, handbags, cameras, motorbikes, boats, trophies and teapots. 
 This particular series features various breeds of dogs, ranging from the French Bull to the Dalmatian. For each piece, Clark searches flea markets, garage sales, and even dumpsters for certain types of paper that are visually interesting.

Clark purposefully selects the scraps of paper used to create each friendly dog, which often adds to the personality of each piece. Look closely at some of his work and you will notice details that connect the dog to the medium. For example, a Scottish terrier might be formed out of maps of Scotland, another breed may be created from strips of an old paper dog license.
Clark says that his collages, “use mark-making in an innovative and humorous way to create a collection of beasts and clothing which exude character and wit.” He aims to provide his viewers with some humour, mixing and juxtaposing the three dimensional layers to define the shapes, tones, and colours of each collage in a playful, visual collection.

He has exhibited in London, Milan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Melbourne, Los Angeles, New York and Toronto.

Besides his unique collage pieces, Clark has also produced a small series of prints, individualizing each work in the edition by collaging a piece of paper on to it. A best-selling book on his art, Paper Work - Peter Clark was published by Black Dog, London, in 2009.