*Karl Torok (1950-2015)
'Fence Plants'
Inscribed and dated 1973 verso, screenprint on canvas, together with a further screenprint on canvas by the artist 'Pot Plant', with a study of trees to the reverse, 66.5cm by 110cm and 152cm by 91cm respectively (unframed)

Provenance: From the Estate of Karl Torok, West Yorkshire

Karl Torok was born in Bradford in 1950 of Hungarian heritage. He studied printmaking at Bradford College of Art from 1968-72.
In 1973 he held his first solo exhibition at New Lane Gallery in Bradford and in 1978 and 1983 held solo exhibitions at Cartwright Hall, Bradford.

Gardens were the main focus of his work, in particular topiary and he also collaborated with other 'garden' artists, including Ian Hamilton Finlay. He also became part of the Yorkshire group, the 'New Arcadians' alongside Hamilton Finlay.

He was greatly influenced by the works of Patrick Caulfield and American Pop Artists such as Ed Ruscha. He was advanced in his printmaking methods and was one of the early trailblazers for the use of computer generated or enhanced art and works created in this method were chosen for the 'Food for Thought' exhibition at the Manor House, Ilkley, in 1987.

Examples of his paintings can be found in many national collections including the Tate, Bradford Art Galleries Collections and the Hepworth, Wakefield.