MARK LANCASTER

Mark Lancaster (b. 1938, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, UK) was a pioneering British artist celebrated for his vibrant paintings, immersive stage designs, and deep collaborations with iconic figures in modern art. He studied under Richard Hamilton at Newcastle University (1961–1965) and pursued further studies at the Bath Academy of Art.

In 1964, Lancaster moved to New York and briefly worked as Andy Warhol’s assistant, even appearing in several of Warhol’s films. During this time, he formed connections with luminaries such as Jasper Johns, Ellsworth Kelly, and Helen Frankenthaler ([Prabook][1]). He returned to the UK to teach at Newcastle University (1965–1966) and later became the first Artist‑in‑Residence at King’s College, Cambridge (1968–1970), where he forged friendships with literary figures like E. M. Forster and Duncan Grant.

In 1973, Lancaster relocated to the United States, where he served as Jasper Johns’s assistant and private secretary from 1974 to 1985. Around the same time, he also worked as a resident designer for the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, contributing to landmark dance productions like Five Stone Wind (first staged in Berlin, Avignon, and New York in 1988).

Following Warhol’s death in 1987, Lancaster embarked on a powerful tribute: a series of over 200 small canvases titled “Post‑Warhol Souvenirs”, drawing on the Pop Art icon’s memory and aesthetic. This series was exhibited at London’s Mayor Rowan Gallery.

Lancaster’s painting style evolved from meticulously arranged grid patterns in vibrant hues to expressive, gestural abstractions—melding order with emotion, structure with spontaneity.