Gary James McQueen
Gilded Skull I 2025

Gilded Skull I sees 3D sculptor Gary James McQueen translate one of his most recognisable images, alongside an extraordinary new design, into a silkscreen collection for the first time.

Exquisitely blending fine art and digital design, Gary James McQueen captivates viewers by illuminating the beauty in the mystical, macabre and romantic.

The collection of four hand-signed limited editions honours a form that is somewhat synonymous with the McQueen name – the skull. A powerful emblem of storytelling for his uncle, the late, great fashion designer Lee Alexander McQueen, the skull remains a timeless symbol of life’s beauty, fragility and transience.

Featured Art: 'Midas (Ivory)' Hand-signed mixed media with gold leaf silkscreen limited edition by Gary James McQueen.

Gilded Skull I is a poignant testament to Gary James McQueen's creative and personal past, whilst marking the start of a new chapter in his artistic journey. The iconic ‘Vanitas’ artwork, the hero image for the BAFTA-nominated ‘McQueen’ film, is presented alongside the never-before-seen ‘Midas’, both in two distinct colourways.

In each of the four artworks in Gilded Skull I, we see Gary James McQueen’s signature motifs of dark romantic elegance and his use of pioneering technology and traditional values. Golden moths and butterflies – symbols of transformation – sit beside blooming flora, a sign of new life in this springtime release.

Featured Art: 'Midas (Teal)'. Hand-signed mixed media with gold leaf Silkscreen limited edition by Gary James McQueen.

For the first time, Gary James McQueen is pushing the boundaries of technology and traditional fine art values in unison to present his work as a silkscreen collection.

A time-honoured technique rooted in centuries of tradition, the process behind silk-screening shares many parallels with Gary’s groundbreaking sculptural methods. Both delicately break down an artwork into individual elements, before meticulously reconstructing them layer-by-layer.

Featuring independently sculpted components, the skulls we see in the collection are fully formed front and back. The depth, volume and life of these 3D sculptures exude through the 2D surface. A celebration of such fantastical form, Gilded Skull I is a truly special collection for Gary James McQueen, featuring his trademark golden touch.

Featured Art: 'Vanitas (Gold)'. Hand-signed mixed media with gold leaf silkscreen limited edition by Gary James McQueen.

To mark Gary James McQueen’s debut silkscreen collection with Castle Fine Art, we have partnered with the artist to host his first digital public art exhibition at W1 Curates, London from 1st March to 31st March.