NON FICTION
JAMES McQUEEN
JAMES McQUEEN
JAMES McQUEEN
As elusive as a rare first edition book, James McQueen operates under a fictitious name so his art can speak for itself. His debut collection, Non-Fiction , recreates the nostalgia of vintage books, with the subversive titles and graffiti elements giving his multi-layered paintings a contemporary aesthetic. Viewed up close, the large-scale limited edition prints have an effect not dissimilar to the giant playing cards in Lewis Carroll’s 1895 novel, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland .The supercharged Pop Ar t colours have been replicated in exquisite detail by our specialist atelier team, who have captured the worn texture of James’ original paintings through the fine art silkscreen process. “I think I’ve always been fascinated by books – especially old books,” explains James, whose work is owned by celebrities including the British TV presenter Phillip Schofield. “I want to create that wear and tear, that authenticity. By removing the paint, I am recreating the feeling of old books from a vintage bookshop.The exposure of these layers represents the history and journey of the ar twork, just as a used book will have its own story.” An avid collector, James can often be found amongst the dusty shelves and secret backrooms of old
bookshops in NewYork and London. Stylistic influences have been meticulously shelved: his ethereal edges have been likened to those of Mark Rothko, while he also emulates the honesty and boldness of Tracey Emin, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Francis Bacon. James’ creative background in photography and woodwork informs his almost photorealist book covers, with the hand-stencilled fonts chosen to reflect the feeling of the quotes.These range from humorous to cautionary, from the tongue-in-cheek ‘Happiness Is Expensive’ to the darker ‘Be Careful What YouWish For’. He adds: “Some quotes are fun and light to make you smile; others are grey and dark.They show life’s rich tapestry. My collectors choose these pieces because the quote resonates with them. It’s something they can look at every day, as if it is a book on their shelf.”
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“A book that has been passed down has had a life.Where has it been? Where has it travelled? Everyone who owns it has put their little stamp on it.” JAMES McQUEEN
HAPPINESS IS EXPENSIVE Mixed Media, Archival Pigment and Silkscreen on Somerset Satin 410gsm paper Image Size 26½“ x 40” | Framed Size 31” x 44” | Edition of 95 | Framed £1,495
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR Mixed Media, Archival Pigment and Silkscreen on Somerset Satin 410gsm paper Image Size 26½“ x 40” | Framed Size 31” x 44” | Edition of 95 | Framed £1,495
“Sanding is an important part of my artistic process. I move the sander at different angles, especially near the edges, where a book would see wear and tear. All of these beautiful colours pop out like the words of the book.” JAMES McQUEEN
I HAD FUN ONCE IT WAS AWFUL Mixed Media, Archival Pigment and Silkscreen on Somerset Satin 410gsm paper Image Size 26½“ x 40” | Framed Size 31” x 44” | Edition of 95 | Framed £1,495
YOU DON’T KNOW THE HALF OF IT Mixed Media, Archival Pigment and Silkscreen on Somerset Satin 410gsm paper Image Size 26½“ x 40” | Framed Size 31” x 44” | Edition of 95 | Framed £1,495
“I’ve always been interested in the way that books age; if you’ve got a stack of books on a shelf, the daylight will create incredible effects, making each cover fade into a spectrum of different colours.” JAMES McQUEEN
NON-FICTION PORTFOLIO Set of Four Editions in Presentation Por tfolio £3,950 Framed Set of Four £4,950
“I want reactions.What’s art about if it doesn’t evoke an emotion or reaction of some kind?” JAMES McQUEEN
JAMES McQUEEN
The images contained within this literature are an artistic representation of the collection. To best experience our art, we recommend you contact your local gallery to arrange a viewing. © Washington Green 2022. The content of this brochure is subject to copyright and no part can be reproduced without prior permission. washingtongreen.co.uk
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