Artwork
Us
Us is a print by East London Printmakers. It dates from 2010 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
The colors are vibrant, with red, yellow, blue, and black standing out against a white background.
This painting features a central figure surrounded by others, all depicted in a circular pattern. The colors are vibrant, with red, yellow, blue, and black standing out against a white background.
The image is a print, created by the East London Printmakers in 2010. It's held at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
If you're interested in exploring more prints, check out the work of East London Printmakers.
Overview
Us is a screenprint produced in 2010 by the collective East London Printmakers. The work presents a tightly packed field of human faces arranged in a repeating, circular motif that radiates from a central figure. The composition is executed in vivid hues—predominantly red, yellow, blue and black—set against a dark ground, creating a striking visual rhythm.
Subject & Meaning
The print foregrounds a single central visage encircled by numerous other faces, suggesting themes of community, identity and collective presence. The kaleidoscopic repetition emphasizes both individuality and the way personal identities merge within a larger social fabric, inviting viewers to contemplate the balance between the self and the group.
Technique & Style
Created through screenprinting, the image relies on layered stencils to achieve its dense, overlapping pattern. The artist applied bold, saturated inks that retain crisp edges, while the repetitive circular arrangement produces a sense of movement. The signed and numbered format confirms its status as a limited-edition work, typical of contemporary print practices.
History & Provenance
Us entered the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum shortly after its production, where it remains part of the institution’s print and drawing holdings. The piece is catalogued under the museum’s 2010 acquisitions, reflecting the museum’s ongoing commitment to documenting recent developments in British printmaking.
Context
The work emerges from the early‑21st‑century resurgence of collaborative print studios in East London, where artists explored communal production methods. Within this milieu, East London Printmakers emphasized shared techniques and thematic concerns about urban life, positioning Us as both a product of its environment and a commentary on the densely populated cityscape.
Artist & collection
Artist
This group makes contemporary prints that tell everyday stories with sharp, colorful lines.
