Half of Pete McKee’s original artwork has been found in the lead up to his new exhibition, but he’s still looking for more.
Opening in November, McKee has been locating 25 pieces of his past work to star in Weston Park Museum.
Sheffield Museums work with the community to tell the story of Sheffield and its people.
McKee used to visit the museum with his dad as a child, and said: “I jumped at the chance and the opportunity, and then I had to come up with a concept.
“Weston Park is very much a Sheffield history orientated museum, with archival exhibitions about things that affect this area, so I wanted to show something that reflects that.”
The Boy with a Leg Named Brian tells the story of McKee’s childhood, from his early to teen years and ‘upbringing from a Sheffield council estate’ in 1970’s Sheffield.
His early original work was displayed in Sheffield, so he expects most of them to still be here.
Despite one painting residing in Washington DC, there has been a ‘healthy’ local response.
McKee said: “We’re around halfway through the list which is a good start, I’d love to get them all.”
Not only will the work be part of the exhibition, but some of the earliest pieces of work weren’t photographed correctly.
If they are returned they could be scanned properly.
McKee holds Sheffield close to his heart, and said: “I am definitely proud of the idea and belief that Sheffield is born and built on hard work and industry, and the people that created the wealth for Sheffield were the working class and their determination. I saw that in my family and people around my family.
“This exhibition has a really strong personal meaning to me because every one of them is from my upbringing and the observations of my life.”
McKee hopes that people can be ‘generous’ and share their paintings with the world in a safe ‘established show’.
All of the artwork McKee is searching for can be viewed on Sheffield Museums website.
McKee requested anyone who has an original piece gets in touch with his team at chris@petemckee.com.
