5 reasons you should visit the Roy Lichtenstein retrospective

The Tate Modern is showing the first full-scale retrospective of this prominent American pop artist in over twenty years but why should we be excited?

1. The exhibition will bring together over 125 of the artist's most definitive paintings and sculptures.

2. It's a little known fact that Roy Lichtenstein also made a film. Called Three Landscapes, it's his one and only film work and will be shown for the first time in Europe at the Tate.

3. While you'll already know him for his 1960s comic book pop art, the Tate is hoping to demonstrate a different side to the artist by showing some rarely seen works such as his early abstract expressionist paintings and art nouveau-inspired sculptures.

4. The exhibition at the Tate will be the biggest Lichtenstein show since the Guggenheim in New York staged a retrospective in 1993 when the artist was still alive. Lichtenstein died in 1997 of pneumonia.

5. During his life Lichtenstein's work was often criticised more than it was praised. In 1964 Life magazine published an article called 'Is He The Worst Artist In The US?' You can decide for yourself at Lichtenstein: A Retrospective, which will be at the Tate Modern from 21 February to 27 May 2013.