Designer Desire: Cyril Power

Montage of Cyril Power artworks

Cyril Power (1872-1951) was a leading lights of the Grosvenor School of Modern Art in London. He was tutored there by one of our earlier Designer Desire featured artists, Claude Flight. Power also taught at the school, lecturing on architecture.

Self-portrait by Cyril Power

Power’s subject matter was often about travel and sport – he made many studies of London Underground. His linocuts are full of movement, kinetic energy and speaks of the obsession with speed that was prevalent at that juncture of the 20th century.

For a while, he shared a studio and often collaborated with fellow Grosvenor alumnus, Sybil Andrews until they parted ways in 1938. They produced posters for London Transport for events such as Wimbledon and the Epsom Derby. These works were signed jointly as ‘Andrew-Power’.

His work is in the permanent collections of, amongst others, The British Museum, National Galleries Scotland, London Transport Museum and MoMA.

Original, limited edition prints of his works can be regularly had at auction or new reprints are available on eBay.

There are a few of books dedicated to his back catalogue including The Linocuts of Cyril Edward Power 1872-1951 and Cyril Power Linocuts: A Complete Catalogue.

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