Yorkshire artist’s NASA‑commissioned print to feature in Bradford pop‑art show

NASA‑commissioned print enters Bradford exhibition

Cartwright Hall will exhibit a 1962 screen print by Yorkshirean Michael Fossick within its Pop Art at Cartwright Hall show, which remains open to the public through March 2027. The print, titled Komtek I, was produced for a NASA project that aimed to document the agency’s early space‑travel efforts.

Fossick, a former student of Bradford School of Art, was one of 38 artists commissioned by NASA administrator James Webb in March 1962 to create works celebrating the space programme. The piece Komtek I drew its inspiration from a microcomputer manufactured by Hong Kong-based Komtek Technologies Ltd, hardware that contributed to the initial phases of the space program.

In 1968, the artwork was initially entered into the First British International Print Biennale at Cartwright Hall, where it secured an award. The Biennale ran 11 times between 1968 and 1990 and at its peak showcased more than 500 works selected from over 3,000 entries, including pieces by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and David Hockney.

Background

The Pop Art at Cartwright Hall display narrates the history of the British International Print Biennale and features creations by renowned figures including Warhol and Hockney. Curator Jill Iredale notes that the Biennale reflected a post‑World War II shift toward a more experimental, DIY aesthetic in Bradford, driven by a growing population of young, working‑class artists.

Fossick’s Komtek I is a screen print derived from an early computerised image, a detail highlighted by Iredale who described the connection between a Sheffield‑born artist, a local art school and NASA as “completely bizarre”. The print’s inclusion in the current exhibition offers visitors a rare glimpse of a piece they may not have seen before.

Why it matters

The exhibition provides a tangible link between Britain’s print‑making heritage and the global history of space exploration. By showcasing a NASA‑commissioned work created by a local artist, the show underscores the international reach of the space programme and its influence on contemporary art. The display also highlights the role of the British International Print Biennale in promoting avant‑garde artists and fostering a vibrant print culture in the region.

What happens next

The Pop Art at Cartwright Hall exhibition will continue to run until March 2027, allowing visitors to explore the full range of works that document the Biennale’s history and its connection to the space age.