Born in London in 1928, Joe Tilson was one of the leading figures associated with the British Pop Art movement s and was an enthusiastic proponent of political activism, sexual liberation and social change.
Tilson served in the Royal Air Force between 1946 – 49 before studying at St Martin’s School of Art (1949-52) and the Royal College of Art (1952 – 55). He began teaching at St Martin’s School of Art in 1958, and subsequently at Slade School of Fine Art, London, The School of Visual Arts, New York and the University of Fine Arts, Hamburg.
During the 1960s Tilson become known as one of the leading figures of the British Pop Art movement. His work gained international recognition at the XXXII Venice Biennale in 1964, which led to a retrospective at the Boyman’s Museum, Rotterdam in the same year. Further retrospective exhibitions were held at the Vancouver Art Gallery in 1979 and the Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol in 1984.
Tilson was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1985 and a full Royal Academician in 1991.