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John Dugger

John Dugger (1948-2023) was born in Los Angeles. He studied in Chicago before arriving in Europe in 1967, where he became part of the London avant-garde. He created participatory art events in London, working and exhibiting with artists such as David Medalla, Lygia Clark and Helio Oiticica; and designed a pavilion for Documenta 5 at the invitation of Harold Szeeman.

In the 1970s, influenced by his travels in China and Asia and his passion for mountaineering, Dugger's practice shifted away from participation art towards banner making. His banners have been commissioned by the Dalai Lama and the House of Commons and are in many public collections, including Tate, London. In  2007, he exhibited drawings and Expeditionary Mountain Banners at England & Co. Two of his early banner works were exhibited recently at the Antwerp Museum of Contemporary Art. The exhibition This Could Happen to You: Ikon in the 1970s, which includes works by John Dugger, was held recently at the Ikon Gallery, Birmingham.

The exhibition at England & Co in 2010: John Dugger: Ergonic Messenger focused on his works and projects from the 1970s and was accompanied by a 36-page illustrated catalogue that includes an essay by Guy Brett.

In June 2012, John Dugger exhibited with England & Co at Pinta: The Latin American Art Fair in London, where his large Chile Vencera! banner, first hung in Trafalgar Square in 1974, was on display in the main exhibition space. In July 2012, his Sports Banner from 1980 was featured as Tate's Work of the Week to coincide with the opening of London's Olympic Games.



BIOGRAPHY   
 
Drawings & works on paper   Prints   Sculpture   

Constructions & mixed media



Docklands Banner - Details


Docklands Banner 1978
69.5 x 88 inches
Appliqued strip banner

Anti-Nuclear Banner for the GLC - Details


Anti-Nuclear Banner for the GLC c 1982
73 x 98.5 inches
Appliqued banner with mixed fabrics and photomontage Nuclear Overkill by Peter Kennard.

Chile Vencera Banner - Details


Chile Vencera Banner 1974

Mixed media strip banner

Sports Banner - Details


Sports Banner 1980
48 x 78 inches
Mixed media strip banner

Tate collection, London.



 Red (Banner) Studio (after Matisse) - Details


Red (Banner) Studio (after Matisse) 1980
60 x 49 inches
Mixed media construction in four parts

Edition 1/3



Wu Shu Kwan Banner - Details


Wu Shu Kwan Banner 1977

Mixed-media strip banner

Wu Shi Commune - Details


Wu Shi Commune 1975

Mixed media textile strip banner

Banner Peak - Details


Banner Peak 2002
110 x 140 inches
Mixed media banner (detail)

Mt Wilson - Details


Mt Wilson 2007
52 x 65.5 inches
Mixed media banner