About the edition

A limited edition lambswool blanket by Brian Calvin, exclusively for House of Voltaire.

Bohemians, beauties and burnouts – Calvin is known for his figurative paintings of a typically Californian crowd. Painted in bright, sundrenched hues with an almost cartoonish quality, Calvin’s figures are shaped by pop cultural references. Although necessarily flat, the images are not easy: the artist includes skewed crops and unknowable narratives in each composition, the result is a painting at once familiar and strange. For his first ever artist’s blanket edition, Calvin has produced an original work that focuses on the mouth, a pervasive motif within his oeuvre. 

Each blanket is made by master Scottish craftspeople with a rich heritage of knitwear and textile production using completely natural materials. The double–sided knitting style achieves a design rich finish. The front face of the blanket showcases the artwork, whilst a birdseye pattern driven by the knitting style, is achieved on the underside. Each blanket has a noticeably soft handle and luxurious feel.


About the artist

Born in California, USA in 1969, Calvin has a BA from University of California, Berkeley and an MFA from School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He currently lives and works in California, USA. Recent solo exhibitions and group presentations include: Almine Rech, China (2020); 'Fugue', Almine Rech, France (2019): `Pressing On', Corbett vs. Dempsey, Chicago, IL (2018): `Cosi fan tutte', Gallery Met, Metropolitan Opera, New York, USA (2018); Brain Calvin, Anton Kern Gallery, New York (2017); Implosion 20, Anton Kern Gallery, New York (2016); Brian Calvin and Margot Bergman Early Works, Anton Kern Gallery, New York (2016). Recent publications include Brian Calvin, published on the occasion of the exhibition Brian Calvin, Anton Kern Gallery (2014).