John Lennon

Before he died, John Lennon told his wife Yoko that there were two things he hoped to accomplish in his lifetime: to record another album, and to be recognised as a visual artist.  The first dream was fulfilled with the recording with Yoko of “Double Fantasy”; but his life was cut short before he had a chance to achieve the second.

Mrs. Ono-Lennon began producing prints of John’s artwork after his death in the hope of fulfilling her husband’s last dream.  She has called it “a silent promise to share John’s love for art with the rest of the world.” The works, produced in editions of 300, were selected from John Lennon’s sketchbooks; they are deeply personal images of his family, his life, his experiences. In many ways, they form an intimate visual diary of John’s thoughts and feelings during the last years of his life. 

Lennon’s style as an artist has been written about extensively, and consisted of two main techniques:  quick sketching and the art of sumi ink drawing, which involves the use of a fine sable brush with  black ink and water.  This Oriental art technique leaves very little room for error; the consistency of the water and ink must be carefully controlled, and the brushstrokes must suit the consistency of the ink.   Quick sketching was also well suited to Lennon, as he could draw extremely fast; many of his quick sketches were made in one continuous movement in which he did not lift his pencil from the paper, thereby creating an entire complex image with a single line. In some instances, the works have been colored by Yoko during the printing process, making them among the couple’s many collaborative projects.     

Previously, John Lennon’s prints have been exhibited at museums and galleries throughout the world. They are in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, as well as other noted institutions.