Boy George
Fame

Boy George believes nothing is original, apart from your perspective. The subjects featured in this limited-edition collection are some of the most pictured figures of the last 50 years; David Bowie, Madonna, Prince, Boy George. But what makes his interpretation of them unique is perspective.

We’re seeing Boy George’s vision of these icons from the distinct eras that speak to him. For the artist, it’s a form of self-reflection, predominantly of his formative years, helping us understand him at individual points in time.

The power of perspective is a fascination shared by the subjects in this collection, who continually transformed their pop identities, borrowing symbols from the cultural archives and creating their own visual history. They each dared to be ridiculed, becoming braver every time.

Boy George explores his evolving relationship with global fame through this collection.

Showcased in four mixed-media silkscreen portraits, we see a supergroup of innovators, some of the most influential creatives of our time, who each held their own perception of fame.

As a self-declared portrait artist, people have always influenced Boy George – famous or not. His original works often feature unknown trailblazers from the 1980s club scene and underground fashion industry. The thing all of his subjects have in common is the mark they have left on him, even if he didn’t know it at the time.

“Obviously I've got heroes and they’re not all famous. They just have to be someone that I was inspired by or liked. In hindsight, I have a lot more respect for many of the people I met over the years. I probably didn’t see the value in the moment, or didn’t like them! But people are iconic.”

Beyond the person we see on paper is a deeper story, an intimate insight into Boy George’s relationship and personal memories with these figures. He is re-telling stories from his past in the only way he can, from his perspective. He’s immortalising these legends through his guise, ‘putting love’ into each piece with his unmistakeable signature.

Pushing the boundaries of creative freedom for over 40 years, Boy George’s stylistic approach is largely guided by instinct. The fearless black markings he once drew on himself with a kohl eye pencil are now a signature characteristic of his art. The sharp linear outlines are distinctly Boy George, softened by delicate mixed media including metal leaves, diamond dust and glitter gloss.

His irregular methods are what make his art unlike anything else. He describes his techniques as almost ‘disrespectful’ to the traditional methods of painting and drawing, challenging the conventional view of beauty through distorted shapes and dramatic disorder.