Joe Lycett's Art Exhibition Opens in Birmingham

Comedian Joe Lycett has unveiled his first major solo art exhibition, titled 'Everything Must Go', at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. The exhibition showcases a diverse range of artworks, including a life-sized pink woolly mammoth sculpture named Martin. The collection draws inspiration from figures and elements such as Ozzy Osbourne, Elvis Presley, Napoleon Bonaparte, and the former BBC television service Ceefax. Lycett collaborated with his mother on one piece, a depiction of the comedy duo Morecambe and Wise.

Inspiration and Themes

Lycett described the exhibition as a 'neon graveyard, full of colour', inspired by 'things that are no longer with us'. He stated his aim is to encourage visitors to engage creatively, saying, "I want people to come in and go, 'well I could do that', and then go and do it, please, go and do it better." The exhibition, which Lycett has been developing over the past year, began with his interest in painting animals but evolved to explore themes of grief and honouring departed friends. The centrepiece, Martin the mammoth, is a mixed-media sculpture featuring ceramic toenails and a latex tongue. Other works include an acrylic painting of a Nokia 2210 phone and a clay sculpture of a dodo. Lycett also created a digital sculpture of television presenter Cilla Black, with her body replaced by a parking meter. He was moved to paint Ozzy Osbourne after attending the musician's final concert in Birmingham.

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Collaborations and Venue

The exhibition features a collaboration between Lycett and his mother, who contributed to a watercolour painting of Morecambe and Wise. Lycett expressed the importance of hosting the exhibition in his hometown, noting the significance of the historic museum building. "This place is amazing and so much of it is closed off," he commented, adding that the building's grandeur reflects a past societal belief in the arts. 'Everything Must Go' is open until 21 February next year, with specific opening times detailed by the museum.

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