London Arts Group

London Graphic Arts began fine print publication of contemporary master printmakers in the late 1960's, a time before fine art was commonly available to the public. In the 1960s the London Arts Gallery (then located at 22 New Bond Street, London) displayed original fine print works by Old Masters like Durer and Rembrandt and modern artists such as Picasso and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. The gallery was also an important and respected showplace for many contemporary Pop artists. The London Arts Gallery was brought to international attention in 1970 when its owner went to trial on charges of corruption of public morality statutes - laws first instated in England in the 1840s. The case revolved around the first ever public exhibition of Bag One the erotic drawings of former Beatle John Lennon. John's controversial erotic lithographs were first exhibited at London Arts Gallery at 22 New Bond Street on January 15th 1970 for the duration two weeks, but on the 2nd day - Scotland Yard and the Police raided the gallery and consfiscated 8 of the 14 exhibits on the grounds that they were indecent. The case was dismissed in a high profile public morality trial on the grounds that entering the passage adjacent to the gallery constituted consent to view artwork on private display.