Joe Lycett has curated his debut major art exhibition at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, titled Everything Must Go, opening on Wednesday. The show draws inspiration from subjects and figures no longer in existence, with Lycett describing the collection as a colorful space filled with nostalgic and memorial elements.
The exhibition’s centerpiece is a large mixed media sculpture of a mammoth named Martin, which incorporates ceramic details and latex elements. Lycett explained that the work emerged from both his interest in painting animals and his desire to explore themes of loss and remembrance, including honors for friends who have passed. The artist stated he conceived the mammoth sculpture during a creative session at 4am, one of his typical times for developing ideas.
Among the collection are various paintings and sculptures depicting cultural figures and objects from popular memory. These include acrylic paintings of a Nokia mobile phone model and the late musician Ozzy Osbourne, alongside representations of historical figures such as Elvis Presley and Napoleon Bonaparte. A digital sculpture reimagines television personality Cilla Black with her body replaced by a parking meter. Additional works feature a clay sculpture of a dodo and references to British cultural touchstones including the Ceefax teletext service.
Lycett collaborated with local contemporary artists on the exhibition, notably working with his mother on a piece depicting the comedy duo Morecambe and Wise, with each artist contributing one half. His mother took up watercolor painting after retiring from a design position at Cadbury. The artist emphasized the importance of presenting the exhibition in Birmingham, his hometown, noting the 19th-century museum building itself reflects the historical value society has placed on the arts.
The exhibition runs through 21 February next year, with viewing available daily during school holidays and Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00 BST. Lycett is also developing a new television program called The Lycett Arms scheduled for later this year on Channel 4, and plans to undertake a tour next year.
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