Ken Law

Hi all
Im after info on an artist by the name of Ken Law. I think, he painted during the 60s and 70s and his prints were available through boots and other department stores, similarly framed and marketed to Lynch prints. I have 2 of his paintings, one framed, one on block board, he is a sort of 'loose cubist' with good flat colour . One of his more famous, well ive seen it twice, is a pic of a high street in London another is called 'winter sun'
Anyone heard of him
Ta Ade

This is an example of Ken Laws work, I believe it to be Hampsted High Street, London. It is on blockboard.
Ade

I have a fiberboard painting of the london high street/hempsted by Ken LAw

Joe

http://ifyouhavetoask.deviantart.com/art/London-Falling-145012059

Greetings from the land of Oz
as far as Ken Law is concerned i am lost in the same castle! Like others here. The great Google machine
turns up very little! I recently purchased a numbered print of "Winter Sun" in a Melbourne Retro Shop, since then i have been like a dog with a bone, i even contacted a colleague in the London Art World (we both remember seeing this work and others in mass chainstores during the sixties in the UK) What surprises me is that the works of Ken Law are certainly a part of Art History during the Mid Century , but sadly not mentioned in Art Historical accounts. It has been suggested that pehaps that was not his real name, but there must be some record!

He was obviously keen on painting London Street Scenes, eg the row of Hampstead Shops , Winter Sun, and a view of St Pauls. Which i have managed to identfy.It is quite possible he is alive and well and living in Eastbourne who knows?

Ive managed to find out that Ken Law was a cellist with the LSO (london symphony orchestra) he painted scenes of places he had played or saw on his travels. It is belived he left us about 10 years ago. His wife was also an artist but i have no first name!

Ken Law, Winter Sun

ade0915 wrote:


Ken Law, Winter Sun

It's a cracking piece of work Ade, think I will have a little go at doing it in watercolour .

Looks like there are a few Winter Sun's around the world, nice to see! With respect i have to say that i am having difficulty in accepting that The Ken Law who played Cello with the LSO are one and the same person
as i did not find any reference to Art in his bio , and it seems that he is a living person also, and i was a little surprised to see he is a native American. From the photo he looks like a man in his 50's ,so if he was the Artist he would have been in his teens!when he painted these scenes of London. I know that this may have been possible but would appreciate some more concrete evidence please.

Interesting!
I got the info from a fellow collector of Kens work who assured me that the LSO link was correct!
Trouble is that info on ken is so scarce who can say whats right?

hi guys

I was just looking for some info on Ken Law as I have one of his prints, its the high street picture shared earlier in this thread.
can't really help with any further info on him though!
happy to take close up pictures etc if anyone wants :)

just found something! the picture i have is for sale on ebay (and it really isn't mine... honest! im keeping mine! ) but it seems it's from Athena which was a shop that used to sell lots of posters etc so possibly not *that* valuable?

here ya go!

I met Ken Law and have one of his paintings. He was a cellist at the LSO and painted a number of pictures of places he visited on tour with the orchestra. He lived in Hampstead and his wife was called Barbara. He died of cancer a while ago and although his prints were very popular at the time there is little info available on him.
I am hoping that the painting I have will appreciate over time

Thanks to 'Londoner' for clarifying that Ken was with the LSO rather than being a teenage American!
Im pleased to say that ive just acquired a 'Hamsted High street' print on board thats over a metre long, looks great!
If you go to 'google earth' and drop into Hamsted High street you will find the scene that he depicted in his painting, less many of the old buildings, but im pleased to say the pub is still there! (its the brown building on the right) Anyway im off for a pint! ( or ten )
Happy new year to you all!

PS 'Londoner' would you be kind enough to post a pic of the painting?-

I can confirm Ken Law who was a cellist in the LSO was also the artist of the above works. I am his son and I'm touched by peoples interest in my father. Do feel free to get in touch if you want any more information. John Law

Hi John,
Do you have any examples of your father's paintings?

Yes I do have many examples of my fathers work, but I am away in Thailand for the winter, will be back in London end March, will post some pics then.

that's great! I love the piece posted by Ade

Hi all!

I just found a lovely picture by Ken Law here in Holland.
I believe it's an image of New York. I would love to share it wtih you but I can't seem to upload a photo of it..

Please John. Post pictures from your fathers work. It's beautifull!

Yes! It worked...
Apparently only works on laptops and not Ipad...
Nice picture don't you think?

I have found a little more about Ken Law!
I bought his print of San Franscisco or New York (shown here) about 10 years ago in a Junk shop and have been unable to discover any more about him.
John Law, please tell us more on your return, your father was an extraordinary painter.
I am a painter myself and find his work so inspirational.
Simple geometric shapes, beautifully composed.
A bit of googling found an absolute gem sold at auction in 2008 of St Pauls, does anyone know how much it went for?
http://www.arcadja.com/auctions/en/lum_ken/artist/122138/

Bizarrely listed under a different name!

I have a Ken Law picture mounted on wood which I inherited. It measures 110cm long by 30cm high and is a 3D British street scene although I do not know its title. Do not think it is Hampstead as there is no pub showing. Any ideas.
Anita T

Currently there is something selling on ebay: I'm pretty glad I was outbid though because I don't think they ship outside the UK.