A free outdoor exhibition titled 'Pop Goes Brum!' will honor Birmingham-born Pop artist Peter Phillips at Snow Hill Square from June 9 to June 30, 2026. Curated by art historian Ruth Millington and organized by Birmingham Colmore, the showcase features Phillips' striking artworks and photographs, alongside contemporary works by current Birmingham School of Art students. Phillips, who studied and later taught at the Birmingham School of Art, was a key figure in the international Pop art movement alongside David Hockney, Pauline Boty, Peter Blake, Andy Warhol, and Roy Lichtenstein. He passed away in June 2025 at age 86.
The exhibition matters because it brings overdue recognition to a pioneering but overlooked Pop artist with deep ties to Birmingham, highlighting how his Brummie humor and industrial/automotive imagery shaped his work. By linking Phillips' legacy with current students, the show also underscores the ongoing influence of Birmingham's art education and local identity in the broader Pop art narrative.