Dan Lane

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.

Former engineer Dan Lane's works certainly have a contemporary, urban edge, but as an artist, he is hugely influenced by the Renaissance. He is inspired by the sculptures found in churches and cathedrals around the world, particularly the flamboyant styling of the Italian sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the artist credited with creating the Baroque style of sculpture.

Nature also influences Dan's art, with many pieces featuring flowers, insects and birds. 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. For me, the hummingbird symbolises how fragile the natural world is; yet with some hard work, we can fix things."

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.

Artist Dan Lane brings an extraordinary new work for those who celebrate love in all its shades. ‘Look At Me, Tell Me You Love Me’ features a pair of skulls in the centre of a heart, surrounded by golden butterflies, all atop a marble base. The title of the limited edition sculpture is carved on top of the heart, echoing Dan’s desire to make his pieces exciting to view from all angles.

He has based it on one of his most popular limited edition prints ‘Look At Me, Tell Me You Love Me’, and reimagining it in three dimensions has made his concept even more emotionally involving. ‘Look at Me, Tell Me You Love Me’ is a bold and passionate piece which could make an extraordinary gift for someone equally extraordinary.

Dan Lane brings two stunning new limited editions from his In The Empty Spaces series to Castle Fine Art for the Autumn launch, with his usual insightful social commentary on life and current affairs, mixed with his love of graffiti. 'Use With Caution' features Dan’s signature metallic skull on a Dollar bill, as a reflection on the negative and positive impact money and power can have on society. It is the first limited edition work from the In The Empty Spaces series, following the demand for the extraordinary original pieces.

The second piece, 'Vanitas', again features Dan’s signature skull, this time featuring the subdued metallic hues which are his favoured palette, again combining the motifs of money and power with the random nature of graffiti.

Featuring the 'Ace of Hearts', 'Ace of Spades', 'Ace of Clubs' and 'Ace of Diamonds', these striking glass prints explore the historic meanings of playing cards. Themes of war, love, wealth and power are intertwined with Dan's signature orchids, skulls, hummingbirds and butterflies for a contemporary style statement.

Dan says: "All of the cards feature the words ‘Stay Lucky’. I use these words a lot when saying goodbye to people I meet face-to-face; a few people have even nicknamed me ‘Lucky Dan’! There’s a connection to being lucky in card games too, which I think is cool. Most people know what a standard deck of cards looks like, but there are actually thousands of different designs. I got to create my own versions with their own stories."

Dan Lane, whose graffiti-inspired collection, In The Empty Spaces, translates elements of this controversial subculture for a provocative release of two hand-signed limited edition prints. The London-based artist, who once created art under his own moniker of Mechanica, has defaced his signature skull with motifs from street art genres, including the interlocking letters and symbols of Wildstyle and the harmony of Abstract.

Alongside his research into colour theory, Dan was inspired by the street art he encountered on his daily walks and the transformative qualities they had on otherwise "empty spaces". He created a series of intricate designs and drawings before manipulating individual sheets of resin to form his sculptural form; heating, moulding, and cutting according only to his own aesthetic vision. Contrasting swathes of light and bright colour was then added in up to four coats each before mounting them to a glossy black board deliberately tinted by his spray paint and sealed with a smoky resin finish.

The series takes its name from the word meaning to come together and form something whole. Each of the limited edition artworks features metallic elements and a stunning glass finish. The razor-sharp detail was originally created by giclée-printing on the back of toughened glass before adding a chrome foil for an amazing highlight effect.

A small selection of original works is also still available. Dan experimented with crushed glass and cold casting with copper, bronze and aluminium to create sculptural works that were touched by his own hands at every point of the process.

Classic art meets modern culture for Dan Lane's Modern Relics series. Inspired by the works of Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Michelangelo, he has explored how we treat our bodies to create works which look like they could be hundreds of years old. Made from solid bronze, the sculptures feature an incredible patina on the skin surface. The aging process involved using chemicals to produce a natural Verdigris. The carved tattoos are raised and have a highly polished finish.

Dan says: “I decided to visit some of the original sculptures to see them in the flesh. Tattoos have become such a mainstream part of our bodies, and I couldn’t help but think that the artists wouldn’t have been able to resist using them in their own work. These sculptures are modern relics. It’s taken my art to another level.”