Welcome to our Artist Spotlight Expat Choicers! In this episode, we’re featuring artist Russell Young. Renowned for using powerful images appropriated from history and popular culture, the British-American pop artist, loves to glamourise “a very aggressive and violent image”.
Like pop artists past and present, Russell remakes these images which attest to the appetites and bewitching excesses of fame.
Marilyn Close Up (Atomic Silver and Black) Medium: Mixed media (screenprint, acrylic, enamel and diamond dust) on canvas, signed by the artist Edition: CV II 2011 Year: 2011. Size: Image: 157.5cm x 121.9cm - Framed: 164.0cm x 128.0cm x 9.5cm
Russell studied photography, film and graphic design at the University of Chester, and then attended the Exeter College of Art and Design in the UK. Russell's big career break came in 1986 when he photographed George Michael for the Faith album cover. In addition, he has also photographed legends such as Morrissey, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, President Obama, David Bowie, the Smiths, REM, Diana Ross and Frankie Goes to Hollywood to name a few.
During the 90s, Russell gave up photography to pursue his love of painting. He relocated to New York and in 2001, began his ‘Pig Portraits’ series. He acquired the mugshots of musicians, actors and political figures, and enlarged them as bold, colourful, silkscreen portraits of Sid Vicious, Elvis Presley, Jane Fonda, Malcolm X, Steve McQueen, Frank Sinatra and Lee Harvey Oswald. "They were meant to be anti-celebrity portraits. To take a dig at my former career I guess. As a release. But they ended up – I think they look better than they do in some of the sessions.”
Frank Sinatra (Pig Portraits, Gold). Medium: Acrylic and enamel screen print on canvas, signed by the artist. Edition: BAT (Bon á Tirer). Year: 2007. Size: Image: 160.0cm x 124.5cm - Framed: 166.0cm x 129.0cm x 9.5cm
He has shown in galleries and museums in London, Paris, Vienna, Berlin, Tokyo, Singapore, New York, Detroit, Miami and Los Angeles. His silkscreen paintings have acquired a huge and illustrious fan base and can be found in the collections of Aby Rosen, The Qatari Royal Family, Kate Moss, David Bowie, Liz Taylor, Barack Obama, The Albertina Museum, The Saatchi Collection and Brad Pitt.
Riot: A riot is the language of the unheard Medium: Mixed media (screenprint, acrylic, enamel and diamond dust) on canvas, signed by the artist. Edition: Unique. Year: 2008. Size: Image: 157.5cm x 121.9cm - Framed: 167.5cm x 127.5cm x 9.5cm
Marilyn Crying (Cream and Suicide Pink) Medium: Enamel and diamond dust screen print on Somerset paper, signed by the artist. Edition: AP #9/9. Year: 2011. Size: Image: 97.0cm x 75.0cm - Sheet: 114.0cm x 89.0cm - Framed: 129.0cm x 114.0cm x 7.0cm (Float Framed)
Fancy a bit of Russell Young glamour in your home? Drop us a line at blair@addictedgallery.com or elena@addictedgallery.com to make it happen. In the meantime, you can try Russell's pieces on for wall size using our App, See It On Your Wall.
Until the next one Expat Choicers, "Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine." - Anthony J. D'Angelo
Blair & El xoxo www.addictedgallery.com
