London's South Bank brightened up yesterday following the launch of a new pop-up art exhibition, Pittsburgh Art on the Bank. The exhibition – curated by VisitPITTSBURGH, in collaboration with Greater Pittsburgh Art Council and Arts and Culture at Pittsburgh International Airport – brings together 12 works of art from well-known and emerging Pittsburgh-based artists in a multi-disciplinary showcase.

The week-long exhibit will run until Sunday 9 June and throughout the exhibition, visitors will also have the opportunity to win a five-night trip for two to Pittsburgh and admission to a selection of the city's top museums with British Airways. To enter, visitors must share a selfie with their favourite piece of art on Instagram using the bespoke hashtag #PITartonthebank.

Throughout the week, the exhibition will also host two interactive events, including a Q&A with Donald G. Warhola – nephew of Andy Warhol, who was born and raised in Pittsburgh – in addition to a series of silk-screen printing sessions this weekend. Both activities are free and open to the public; all ages welcome.    

The Q&A session with Donald G. Warhola will take place on Wednesday 5 June between 1-2pm in the Screening Room at Sea Containers London, a short walk from the exhibition. Spaces to the Q&A are limited, so free tickets need to be secured in advance here.

Silk-screen printing sessions will be available on 8 and 9 June, from 11am-2pm and 4-7pm on Saturday and 12-4pm on Sunday. Ticket holders will have the chance to explore Andy Warhol's signature technique and take away an iconic print on a complimentary tote bag. Free tickets can be booked here.

About the exhibition

Overseen and curated by a panel of Pittsburgh arts administrators, the exciting programme features original tapestry pieces, digital installations, visual poems, canvas oil paintings and archived photography. Interdisciplinary artist and cultural producer, Alisha Wormsley, is displaying a piece from her latest project titled “There Are Black People in The Future” that explores collective memory and the synchronicity of time, specifically through the stories of women of colour. Adding a digital element to the exhibition is Bill Shannon, who explores body-centric work through video installation, sculpture, choreography, dance and politics. Shannon's piece titled “The Conversation”, showcases two lost internet souls that meet up on a bench to validate who they are and share a moment of bonding through touch.

Crystal Latimer's work explores the hybridity of Western and Latin American identity incorporating modern commercial wallpaper with historical paintings. Latimer's' piece titled “Untitled with parrots (The First Voyage)” combines paints and patterns woven together into a visual tapestry. Literary artist Yona Harvey's piece is inspired by award-winning poet Douglas Kearney who tasked Harvey with visually interpreting the song “Cleva” from Erykah Badu's 200 album Mama's Gun. The piece nods to Harvey's early memories with her daughter and the time they spent together in a sewing studio.

Original tapestry pieces by Terry Boyd – who substitutes paint for thread and uses performance, pattern and embroidery to explore the mind – is on display alongside internationally renowned patchwork quilt artist, Tina Brewer, whose piece was inspired by the renowned Pittsburgh playwright, August Wilson. Brewer's piece explores African American history and culture and creates stories quilts centring on issues related to family, women and spirituality. The line-up will also include celebrated artists: Ed Piskor, Feliz de la Concha, Mia Tarducci, Peter Paul Rubens, Teenie Harris, Terry Boyd, Tina Williams Brewer and Thad Mosley.

Celebrated as one of the best arts and culture destinations in the US, Pittsburgh has earned its reputation as a must-visit destination for creatives. Not only is it the birthplace of legendary artist Andy Warhol, it is also home to a seven-storey museum dedicated to his life's works, showcasing over 3,000 pieces; The Carnegie Museum of Art (CMOA), committed to championing creativity; contemporary art museum The Mattress Factory, providing a living and working space for artists from around the world; historic 19th century art museum The Frick, that showcases a selection of fine art and furnishings and just outside of the city, world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright's, Fallingwater. Designed for the Kaufmann family, the house that was built over a waterfall in the Laurel Highlands is now a National Historic Landmark.

Further details can be found at visitpittsburgh.com/art-on-the-bank

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NOTES TO EDITORS:

Interviews with all the artists will be available upon request, either by email or telephone. See accompanying artist fact sheet for more information on the individual pieces and artists. The full listing of artists and artwork at press time as follows:

The artists and their pieces

• Alisha Wormsley - "There Are Black People In The Future", 2015
• Bill Shannon - “The Conversation” – An Excerpt from Bill Shannon's “Touch Update”
• Crystal Latimer - “Untitled with Parrots (The First Voyage)”, 2019
• Ed Piskor - “Flash on the wheels of steel”, 2013
• Felix De La Concha - "At the Foot of the Falls", 2006
• Mia Tarducci - “White Noise”, 2018
• Peter Paul Rubens - Portrait of Charlotte-Marguerite de Montmorency, Princess of Conde, c.1609.
• Teenie Harris - Photograph
• Terry Boyd - “A Dreamless Sleep. Forever, and Ever”, 2018
• Thad Mosley - Sculptures
• Tina Williams Brewer - "Tributaries of Genius"
• Yona Harvey - “All. Right. With. Me”, 2019

International Marketing Cooperative

In order to raise awareness of the Pittsburgh region and Pittsburgh International Airport to potential international travelers, an International Marketing Cooperative was formed. Founding members are Pittsburgh International Airport, VisitPITTSBURGH, Visit Washington County, Butler County Visitors Bureau and Idea Foundry. Later, the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau, Visit Monroeville and the Allegheny Conference on Community Development became partners. 
The Cooperative's goals are three-fold: Increased travel/tourism, improved inward investment and increased air service to facilitate them both. It focuses its marketing efforts on cities and countries that have current nonstop flights from Pittsburgh International Airport as well as potential new markets where service would be beneficial to the goals of the organization. With the assistance of PR and Tourism agencies in London and Germany, the group identifies strategies and tactics that will best promote Pittsburgh to new audiences of travelers. This awareness will drive visitation and create a positive impact on the Greater Pittsburgh economy.

About Pittsburgh

Located in Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh is home to numerous arts and cultural offerings, such as The Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History and the Carnegie Science Center. It's buzzing Downtown Cultural District, burgeoning food scene and high-tech status, due to exciting research being undertaken at the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University and Google's Pittsburgh office, as well as the testing of autonomous vehicles by Uber and Argo Al, is bringing a new wave of young Pittsburgh residents into the city. Known as 'Hollywood of the East' due to the number of films shot in the city, Pittsburgh offers a number of cheap and free experiences for visitors to enjoy, from outdoor amenities to family attractions. Currently served by British Airways from London Heathrow, travellers arrive into Pittsburgh International Airport. Learn more at visitpittsburgh.com

About Arts and Culture at Pittsburgh International Airport

The Art in the Airport program at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) is dedicated to showcasing a dynamic array of work produced by local, regional, national, and international artists.  The current interior exhibition spaces are designated for local and regional artists, and provide a sample of the Pittsburgh arts community within the airport. Additionally, PIT features sculptures and installation work by renowned regional, national, and international artists. The program is part of the airport's commitment to creating a sense of place, by connecting to the region that it serves. Learn more at Flypitsburgh.com

About the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council

The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council (GPAC) champions the arts in Southwestern Pennsylvania, providing financial, professional, and political support for the arts and culture sector. Comprised of more than 400 diverse artists and nonprofit organizations, GPAC offers valuable research, legal and business consulting, networking and professional development opportunities so that artists, as well as arts leaders and organizations, can grow their skills and advance their practice. GPAC provides grants for artists and arts organizations, leads the region's arts advocacy at the local, state, and national level, and models best practices for accessibility and equity in the arts. Learn more at PittsburghArtsCouncil.org