Dan Lane

Born: Kent (1980)
Lives and works: Kent
Exhibitions: The Old Truman Brewery (2019), Village Underground (2017)
“Our lives are so busy nowadays, and distractions can leave us blinkered to the world around us. We need to open our senses.”

Dan Lane | Autumn 2023

In his dark, intricate sculptures, Dan twists natural forms through mechanical intervention, presenting an industrial version of life. With subjects ranging from botanical scenes to skulls, butterflies, graffiti lettering and figurative works, his diverse portfolio of 3D and 2D art is a favourite amongst our collectors.

Following the artist's “Chaos & Order” show, Dan Lane returns with a brand-new collection featuring one sculpture and three new limited-edition artworks.  The highly popular works have a contemporary, urban edge, but as an artist, Dan is hugely influenced by the Renaissance and it’s the fusion of the two different styles that make the pieces so special.

Inspiration

A former engineer, Dan hit the headlines in 2014, when he was featured in a range of national newspapers, magazines and TV programmes, including BBC News at Six. He is inspired by the sculptures found in churches and cathedrals around the world, particularly the over-the-top Baroque styling of the Italian sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Nature also influences his art, with many pieces featuring flowers, insects and birds.

For his original 3D sculptures, Dan experiments with colours, finishes and textures. These include crushed glass, gold and silver leaf, marble, bronze and glass diamonds. His experience as an engineer allows him to construct concepts as physical creations. Constant research, development and experimentation with methods and materials, coupled with his ability to blend thematic elements, results in work that is simultaneously stylistically distinct and ever-evolving.

A common motif in his work is the hummingbird. Dan explains: "I use these a lot in my work and see them as one of the most delicate and beautiful things in nature. Nature has never taken from us, yet we have exploited nature's generosity. For me, this hummingbird symbolises how fragile the natural world is; yet with some hard work, we can fix things."

Featuring the Ace of Hearts, Ace of Spades, Ace of Clubs and Ace of Diamonds, the limited edition glass giclée prints and original 3D wall sculptures from Dan's Ace High collection explore his interest in playing card tricks and their historic symbolism. Themes of war, love, wealth and power are intertwined with elements of nature for a modern style statement. 

Dan says: “My work acts as an invite into my intricate imagination; my dark yet beautiful world of nature against an industrial backdrop. I love the idea of having something beautiful like a butterfly or hummingbird try to find its place and break out of the mechanical worlds I create.”

Shop Dan's latest artworks here

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Inside the world of Dan Lane

Inspired by the work of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Michelangelo and Antonio Canova, Dan's Modern Relics series reimagines a classic style in a thoroughly modern setting. With authenticity in mind, he intertwines the exploration of how we treat our bodies with a desire to create works which look like they could be hundreds of years old.  

Dan says: "I have developed a technique of casting marble that gives it the right feel while also retaining the natural cracks and imperfections that are impossible to reproduce by painting. This alludes to my concept of these sculptures as a modern relic, as it gives the pieces a sense of age.  

"The copper finish is one I’ve also developed over time. It’s a technique which mixes real, hand-applied copper leaf with paint-aging methods. The aging method can be taken to the extreme by using chemicals to produce a natural verdigris (a bluish-green patina). I love the warm tones of the copper, and it really helps the engraved or sculpted tattoos stand out from the sculpture."

For authentic inspiration, Dan also visits classical sculptures and buildings around the world. For his graffiti-inspired In The Empty Spaces collection, he visited the famous graffiti tunnel of Leake Street underneath London’s Waterloo station. Dan says: “The build-up of layers struck me. Some graffiti artists will do a whole mural, but then you also notice everyone’s put their little tag on there or something, and you get that accumulation of slightly different styles. The end result is walls that look cool because they’re so random."

From the blog

More stunning modern classics from Dan Lane’s Chaos & Order collection!

Dan Lane brings us four more exciting, limited edition pieces as part of his Chaos & Order series; three stunning works created on glass and a showstopping sculpture, all melding the art of antiquity with meaningful contemporary elements.

Dan Lane - 'Heavy is the Head That Wears the Crown'

Dan Lane returns with two new limited edition artworks in his signature style - skulls mixed with thought-provoking elements - plus a bronze version of one of his most popular sculptures, 'When All is Equal'.

Magazines and brochures

Dan Lane | In The Empty Spaces

Dan Lane presents his brand new series, In The Empty Spaces. The collection questions the nuances associated with empty spaces; are they actually empty, or do they hold real substance as a foil to the elements that sit adjacent to them?

Dan Lane | Coalesce

Showcased at an exclusive pop-up gallery at the Old Truman Brewery in London in November 2019, the new Coalesce collection by Dan Lane encapsulates his past learnings and future direction.

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