Glam, a visually extravagant pop style, exploded across Britain during the years 1971-5. The exciting, futuristic sounds, extravagant fashions and glitter-dappled personas emerging in this era had their roots firmly in British art schools.

The exhibition investigates artistic developments in Britain Europe and North America through the prism of glam, examining painting, sculpture, installation art, film, photography and performance.

Bringing together more than 100 artworks the exhibition will reveal the genealogy of glam. Themes of glamour, camp, exaggerated identity, androgyny, eroticism and dandyism will be explored in the work of David Hockney, Andy Warhol, Cindy Sherman, Allen Jones, Richard Hamilton, Peter Hujar and many more.

The exhibition also includes a new adaptation of Marc Camille Chaimowicz’s spectacular, glitter-strewn installation Celebration? Realife featuring mirror balls, strobe and stage lighting and music including David Bowie.

Glam! The Performance of style is accompanied by a varied programme of events.

Explore the music, film and performance of the glam era in our symposium Glamorama! This two day event will discuss the legacy of glam culture, the relationship of glam to the visual arts and the international significance of glam. Glamorama! will feature a diverse programme of talks, round-table debates, reflection on performance works and film screenings.

The programme will include presentations and participation by a range of experts. Those taking part include Michael Bracewell, renowned cultural critic, writer and curator; Marc Camille Chaimowicz, artist and key figure in the visual arts from the 1970s to now; Professor Jonathan Harris, Professor in Global Art & Design Studies, Winchester School of Art; Dr Petra Lange-Berndt, Lecturer in History of Art, University College London; and Alwyn W Turner, writer and social historian.