Damon Albarn's father Keith dies aged 85: Art and design expert passes away after being diagnosed with cancer
- Have YOU got a story? Email [email protected]
Damon Albarn's father Keith Albarn has died aged 85.
The father of Blur frontman Damon, 56, was a long-standing expert in the field of art and design, having written books and articles as well as appearing on TV and radio.
Keith passed away on July 25 after being diagnosed with cancer. Further details of his illness have not been publicly reported.
According to The Times obituary, Keith was best known academically for his research into patterns, he was also active in many art organisations, including being a trustee at The Minories and Colchester Arts Centre.
He was also head of the School for Art, Design, and Media at Colchester Institute.
Damon Albarn's father Keith tragically died of cancer on July 23, aged 85 (Keith pictured with his son Damon, daughter Jessica, and wife Hazel in October 2014)
The father of Blur frontman Damon, 56 , was a long-standing expert in the field of art and design, having written books and articles as well as appearing on TV and radio (pictured with Ian Knight in September 1965)
In 2013, The Minories gallery presented a body of work that was developed from over 40 years of research; a progression of patterns developed from a simple number game.
And for over 40 years, Keith had been researching number systems and patterns, and their relationship to belief symptoms and creativity.
He developed an infinite number of new patterns which connect across various dimensions allowing endless possibilities for outcomes.
Some of these possibilities were displayed at The Minories Galleries through a patterned environment, prints, sculptural forms, artist's games and soundworks.
Although he eventually came to describe himself as an environmental artist, he initially trained as an architect, believing that the career path was the best outlet for his creative ideas.
It seems his love for architecture was something of a family trait as his parents Edward Albarn and Lucy had respectively studied architecture and art at Leicester College of Arts and Technology.
Just like his father, Keith also married an artist named Hazel whom he met while studying at Nottingham School of Art.
The newlyweds then moved to London and Keith went on to study sculpture at the Hammersmith School of Art.
Together with Hazel and his friend Ian Knight, who is an events designer, they established Keith Albarn and Partners Ltd on Kingly Street.
Although he was best known academically for his research into patterns, he was also active in many art organisations, including being a trustee at The Minories and Colchester Arts Centre
After opening his establishment, Keith was thoroughly embedded in the London art scene and in 1966 he helped to organise Yoko Ono's, 91, first exhibition at the Indica Gallery, where Yoko met John Lennon for the first time.
In 1967, he also hosted his first exhibition of work by Malcolm McLaren.
Keith also briefly managed rock band Soft Machine and took a lorry full of Ekistikit units to the French Riviera where the band was due to play a residency of shows.
Keen to make an impression on fans, Keith doused the bay in petrol, and when the band came on stage to perform, he lit the units and the expanse behind the band went up in flames.
Keith also inadvertently expedited the childhood friendship between his son Damon and Graham Coxon, 55, which eventually led them to form the rock band Blur in 1989.
