Portrait of Gerald Laing

Gerald Laing Paintings: The 39 Most Famous, Through a Gallery's Eye

Updated Жовтень 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 39 works by Gerald Laing in our catalogue

In short

To the gallery's eye, Gerald Laing's most famous painting is Gold spin (pile). Thus far and no further and Gethsemane complete the trio every eye recognises. Of the 39 works by Gerald Laing in our catalog, the gallery presents the 39 most famous below, each original with its year, its museum and what makes it unique.

1936 – 2011, Newcastle upon Tyne Pop art
Gold spin (pile) by Gerald Laing1. Gold spin (pile) Thus far and no further by Gerald Laing2. Thus far and no further Gethsemane by Gerald Laing3. Gethsemane

The gallery's top 10 Gerald Laing paintings

Gerald Laing paintings, ranked 11 to 39

11Indenty by Gerald LaingIndenty 12Trace by Gerald LaingTrace 13Compact by Gerald LaingCompact 14Domestic perspective by Gerald LaingDomestic perspective 15Brigitte bardot by Gerald LaingBrigitte bardot 16Victoria Beckham (Red) by Gerald LaingVictoria Beckham (Red) 17Dragster by Gerald LaingDragster 18Triple by Gerald LaingTriple 19Second sky diver by Gerald LaingSecond sky diver 20Stacy by Gerald LaingStacy 21Mother and child and alter ego by Gerald LaingMother and child and alter ego 22Panoply by Gerald LaingPanoply 23Aad by Gerald LaingAad 24Deceleration ii by Gerald LaingDeceleration ii 25Tall by Gerald LaingTall 26Paper plates by Gerald LaingPaper plates 27First sky diver by Gerald LaingFirst sky diver 28Colgate by Gerald LaingColgate 29Skydiver VI by Gerald LaingSkydiver VI 30Capriccio by Gerald LaingCapriccio 31Deacceleration -3 by Gerald LaingDeacceleration -3 32Homage to joseph albers by Gerald LaingHomage to joseph albers 33Victoria beckham by Gerald LaingVictoria beckham 34Amy winehouse by Gerald LaingAmy winehouse 35September by Gerald LaingSeptember 36Sandra by Gerald LaingSandra 37Resize by Gerald LaingResize 38Deceleration vi by Gerald LaingDeceleration vi 39Anna karina by Gerald LaingAnna karina

The subjects that held Gerald Laing's eye

The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.

Female figure 4 works

Francine, Gerald Laing #5 Francine Tracy, Gerald Laing #6 Tracy Starlet, Gerald Laing #7 Starlet Sandra, Gerald Laing #36 Sandra

Abstract form 2 works

Slide, Gerald Laing #10 Slide Starlet, Gerald Laing #7 Starlet

Gerald Laing, the signature paintings of each year

Every dated original by Gerald Laing on this page was made in 1980: here they are, the most famous first.

Works per year

Pick a year to see its originals.

Gerald Laing's paintings: the gallery answers

Which Gerald Laing painting is the most famous of all?Reveal the answer

Gold spin (pile). Thus far and no further and Gethsemane come next.

Which are Gerald Laing's top 10 paintings?Reveal the answer

Gold spin (pile), Thus far and no further, Gethsemane, Starlet (2), Francine, Tracy, Starlet, Lincoln convertible, LAING: John Laing Construction Limited: Information Sheet\n\nLAING: John Laing Construction Limited: Information Sheet: Barbican Centre for Arts and Conferences, City of London. and Slide. The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.

How many works did Gerald Laing create?Reveal the answer

Our catalog holds 39 works by Gerald Laing.

Which subjects did Gerald Laing return to most?Reveal the answer

Female figure (4) and Abstract form (2), across the 39 works on this page.

Which movement is Gerald Laing associated with?Reveal the answer

Pop art, judging by the originals on this page.

Gerald Laing: the artist

Gerald Ogilvie-Laing (1936–2011): Pioneer of British Surrealism

Gerald Laing, born February 11th, 1936, remains a singular figure in the landscape of British art history. Though initially trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and Saint Martin’s School of Art, Laing swiftly rejected academic conventions, forging his own path toward a distinctive artistic style characterized by unsettling juxtapositions and vibrant color palettes—a hallmark of what would become known as Surrealist Pop Art.

  • Early Influences: Laing's formative years were marked by exposure to Dadaism and Surrealism, particularly the work of René Magritte and Max Ernst. These artists instilled in him a fascination with dreamlike imagery and challenging perceptions of reality.
  • Saint Martin’s School Legacy: His time at Saint Martin’s provided invaluable experience in printmaking and experimentation with various mediums, shaping his artistic approach.

The Emergence of Surrealist Pop Art

Laing's breakthrough came in the mid-1960s when he embraced a bold new aesthetic—Surrealist Pop Art—that blended the dreamlike qualities of Surrealism with the visual language of popular culture. Rejecting traditional artistic techniques, Laing favored pointillism and halftone printing, creating artworks that demanded close scrutiny and rewarded attentive observation.

  • Technique: He meticulously applied tiny dots of color—a technique reminiscent of Georges Seurat—to build up images with astonishing detail.
  • Subject Matter: Laing’s subjects often explored themes of sexuality, power dynamics, and consumerism, presented in unsettling yet captivating ways.

Notable Works & Artistic Achievements

Laing's oeuvre includes iconic pieces like ‘Lincoln Convertible,’ a monumental surrealist composition featuring a floating vintage automobile populated by figures draped in opulent fabrics—a deliberate provocation against societal norms. Equally compelling is ‘Starlet (2)’—a meticulously rendered nude executed in pointillism, incorporating shimmering gold accents that amplify the artwork’s sensual allure.

  • Lincoln Convertible: This ambitious work exemplifies Laing's masterful command of color and composition, capturing a moment of disorientation and grandeur.
  • Starlet (2): The delicate balance between eroticism and artistic precision distinguishes this unforgettable portrait.
  • Francine: A vibrant reproduction of a 1960s pin-up girl, Laing’s ‘Francine’ showcases his signature halftone printing technique and celebrates the glamour of a bygone era.

Legacy & Historical Significance

Gerald Laing's contribution to British art transcends mere stylistic innovation; he fundamentally questioned artistic conventions and engaged in dialogues with broader cultural anxieties. His uncompromising vision continues to inspire artists today, cementing his place as one of the most influential figures in Surrealist Pop Art—a movement that irrevocably altered the trajectory of contemporary visual culture.

All 39 works by Gerald Laing →