Lost Artists

In 2014 the Imperial War Museum commissioned a series of contemporary artists to create artworks to commemorate the Centenary of the First World War. Acclaimed British artist Patrick Brill (b.1963) better known by his pseudonym Bob and Roberta Smith created a bold text based painting that listed just a few of the many artists, composers and poets who were killed in the First World War. The list of departed artists concludes with the question - “what might have been?’’ - prompting audiences to consider not only the horrific loss of life during the Great War but also to consider the incredible loss to culture, arts, literature and music with some of the most promising creatives losing their lives in combat.

To coincide with the centenary of the First World War the Imperial War Museum decided to turn this commissioned painting by Bob and Roberta Smith into a limited edition print. The work was printed into an edition of 200 - allowing the important message of the work to be disseminated around the globe during a time when people are looking back on military history and remembering the First World War, especially during Centenary events. We remember not only the bravery and comradeship of our Australian troops but of international troops, epitomised in this print that reflects international artists killed in action, communicated succinctly through bold text.
Bob and Roberta Smith is the adopted persona of the artist Patrick Brill QBE RA.