About the artist
Gordon House was born in Pontardawe, South Wales. His family moved to Letchworth, Hertfordshire when he was a child. After leaving school at 14, he attended Luton School of Art before moving, with the aid of a scholarship, to St Albans School of Art, where he studied from 1950 to 1952. After graduating, House worked as a designer in the Plastics Division of Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) (1952-59). He later focused on graphic design, with some of his most well-known designs including the album covers of 'The White Album' by The Beatles, and 'Wild Life', the first album released by Paul McCartney’s band, Wings.
Alongside his commercial practice, House exhibited his own works of art and participated in key group exhibitions including: 'Situation' at the RBA Galleries, London, in 1960; 'Play Orbit' at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, in 1961; the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition, London, annually from 1962 until his death; 'Young English Painters' at the Museum of Modern Art, Oxford, in 1967; 'British Group Show' at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Madrid, 1975; a touring show at the Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh, and Brooklyn Museum, New York, during 1981 and 1982; and 'The Sixties Art Scene in London' at the Barbican, London, in 1993. His work is represented in numerous UK public collections including the Arts Council of Great Britain, Tate and the Victoria and Albert Museum; and in international collections including MOMA and Brooklyn Museum in New York.