James Straffon PALETTE

2013-06-24T14:53:00.001+01:00

Three great new exhibitions of work this summer...

2013-05-08T11:47:00.002+01:00

Three brand new series for 2013. Read more HERE.

Summer Exhibitions 2013

2013-03-28T23:13:00.001+00:00

Here's a press release for two new exhibitions running back to back in London, this summer.

New work - Paris Match

2013-02-14T15:20:00.000+00:00

Work has begun on a new series of canvas originals - Paris Match.

Incorporating 12 original Paris Match covers (ranging from 1953-1960), these artworks will feature an alchemy-approach to championing the silver screen femme fatales of this period - including Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Jean Seberg.

Work is in rough phase. More to follow.

"They tipped the county… and the nuts all rolled to Los Angeles"…

2013-02-07T19:51:00.001+00:00

observation • influence • homage

The Wrinkles of the City is a world-scale project aimed to be presented in various cities around the world where “wrinkles”, human as well as architectural, can be found.

So far, JR has pasted The Wrinkles of the City in Cartagena, Spain (2008), in Shanghai, China (2010), Los Angeles, USA (2011) and La Habana, Cuba (2012), in collaboration with US artist José Parlá. In May 2012, JR collaborates with Cuban-American artist José Parlá on the latest iteration of The Wrinkles of the City: a huge mural installation in Havana, undertaken for the Havana Biennale, for which JR and Parlá photographed and recorded 25 senior citizens who had lived through the Cuban revolution, creating portraits which Parlá, who is of Cuban descent, interlaced with palimpsestic calligraphic writings and paintings.

Parlá’s markings echo the distressed surfaces of the walls he inscribes, and offer commentary on the lives of Cuba’s elders; together, JR and Parlá’s murals marvellously animate a city whose walls are otherwise adorned only by images of its leaders.

In Spanish, the project is entitled Los Surcos de la Ciudad.

Pedaler en grand braquet

2013-01-28T16:25:00.003+00:00

observation • influence • homage

Cereal stationery

2013-01-18T13:42:00.002+00:00

The New Year begins with a slight rebrand. And with it a batch of new business cards, which arrived today, in a fine package courtesy of Urban Cottage Industries.

Housed in a former trouser factory, in the UK's industrial north west, UCI are many things - chiefly an advocate and caretaker for bygone glories - this our aesthetic heritage, be it letterpress printing, the soft glow of a gossamer light filament, brown paper and string, or twisted, fabric lighting flex. They represent a life-affirming deliverance from the anodyne creep of the digital age.

Each of my cards are unique. The front design a constant, the reverse a lucky-dip crop of upcycled Breakfast Cereal Packaging. From the UCI site:

'Kornflake.co.uk grew out of our love of letterpress printing and admiration for breakfast cereal packaging. It's a very small but very important part of what we do.

Breakfast cereal manufacturers produce bright, iconic designs on high quality cardboard. Once you've eaten up your cornflakes the majority of this currently ends up in landfill or is shipped halfway around the world to be mechanically and chemically processed into low grade pulp.

Here at Kornflake, instead we make fantastic business and greetings cards from these empty breakfast cereal boxes. We source our raw material using local schools - this offers schools a fundraising scheme and school kids an incentive and an opportunity to take part in a real recycling process. All our cards arrive beautifully packaged in 100% recyclable paper (no polythene / polystyrene).'

Life on Merz

2013-01-17T13:02:00.001+00:00

observation • influence • homage

During my first year studying for a Graphic Design degree, students were required to submit a final year essay, on the subject of their choice.

I chose Kurt Schwitters.

The final mark wasn't a great one. It wasn't that I had not researched my subject, or presented a cohesive precis of why I chose this Dadaist maestro, or written too little or too much. In the tutor's office was an IN Tray, into which students would place their final essay, ready for marking. I recall all the neatly-bound A4 micro-dissertations precisely stacked, almost overspilling the container, yet still holding form. Onto this low rise studious tower block I placed my contribution - an A3 sheet of packing crate board, littered with the cut-n-paste paragraphs from the essay which I had dismantled and reworked, in the process both championing the subject's ethos, and at the same time extracting some sense of what the collage process demanded of its maker.

They didn't like it. Creativity has parameters. It would seem.

Schwitters in Britain - Tate Britain
30 January – 12 May 2013

Sun Bathers. Leonard Beaumont 1932.

2013-01-13T10:42:00.002+00:00

observation • influence • homage

Leonard Beaumont, Sun Bathers, c1932, linocut. Photo © Museums Sheffield.

The Power of the Print:
Leonard Beaumont Rediscovered
22 December 2012 – 14 September 2013
Graves Gallery
Free Entry

Arise Sir Wiggo

2012-12-29T13:31:00.001+00:00

As expected, the extraordinary achievements of Bradley Wiggins in 2012 have been recognised in the New Year's Honours List - as he becomes Sir Bradley Wiggins.

Of his new title, Wiggins said "It's not something I'll use on a daily basis, but it's nice to have in the trophy cabinet as the ultimate accolade as a sportsman, being knighted by your country for not only the success this year but 12 years now of consistent work and performing."

Consequently, my latest artwork 'Kids from Kilburn aren't supposed to win the Tour' takes on new meaning.

Bradley Wiggins - Commemorative artwork

2012-12-24T22:56:00.002+00:00

In recognition of an extraordinary year, I have taken the second of two shoes donated by the 2012 Tour de France winner, and created a fitting installation piece - 'Kids from Kilburn aren't supposed to win the Tour'.

More information HERE.

Bradley Wiggins - Sports Personality of the Year 2012

2012-12-17T10:59:00.000+00:00

In what was probably the closely-contested award since the inaugural BBC Sports Personality of the Year, Bradley Wiggins was crowned the 2012 winner.

Closing the year on his own personal annus mirabilis, Wiggins was gratitios in victory, taking 30.25% of the vote. The coveted trophy set to reside in his local - the Original Farmers Arms in Ecclestone, Lancashire.

Over half of the 25 limited edition Bradley Wiggins 101 prints have been sold. So maybe now is the time to invest in one of the remaining artworks, capping an incredible year of sporting achievement.

Priced at £395, this signed and numbered archival pigment print measures 32 x 35 cm.

Buy a print HERE.

Pastures new

2012-11-23T11:45:00.001+00:00

The momentum has begun - to move over to a newly-designed virtual gallery for my art and practice. Akin to moving home, the initiative rarely runs smoothly, and comes wrapped in the emotions when closing one door, in order to open another.

The intention is to make viewing, and purchasing artworks easier. As well as satisfying the 'tablet generation'. The complete process may take a week or so. Phase 1 is LIVE now.

PRINT EDITIONS - launching a new venture

2012-09-29T21:09:00.002+01:00

Following the success of the LE TOUR Exhibition this summer, I have created associated artworks, to be released within a new venture - PRINT EDITIONS.

Available as limited edition prints, Print Editions come in a concise set of size and price options, referencing the original, and most successful pieces from previous exhibitions.

Print Editions launches as three sets

Head Badges
Featuring twenty-one iconic bike manufactures, from Peugeot to Gitane, Raleigh to Colnago.

Jerseys
All the Jerseys shown in the Le Tour Show, with the option to combine your favourites.

Legends
The Legends series debuts within Print Editions. And features a set of bold epitaphs to the great and good. Using strong graphics and colour mixes, Legends embraces the Pop Art palette, representing the likes of Fausto Coppi, Jacques Anquetil and Tom Simpson in a vibrant framework.

Further editions will be added, building a catalogue of fine art imagery, here focused on cycling heritage. Within some of the editions is the option to combine artworks, and create a bespoke arrangement of components.

The prints are archival pigment reproductions, on high-quality Hahnemühle Photo Rag 308gsm paper - which provides strong saturation, tone and colour, as well as superior pictorial depth.

LE TOUR Exhibition now online

2012-09-18T19:41:00.002+01:00

The entire collection of LE TOUR Exhibition artworks are now available to view online.

Visit the GALLERY section for the complete array of artwork. And the EXHIBITION section for a brief tour of the show.

Many of the pieces are still available to purchase. If you are interested in buying from the show, or would like to discuss a commission get in touch HERE.

End of Summer Sale - Look Mum No Hands

2012-09-07T10:05:00.002+01:00

Some thirty pieces of artwork were installed yesterday at London's celebrated Velo-Cafe-Bar Look Mum No Hands.

With a spectrum of canvases, spanning exhibitions from the London Design Festival to Paul Smith, there are original artworks to suit every pocket. Drop in and celebrate the start of the Tour of Britain, sup an espresso, and come away with a bargain.

Look Mum No Hands
49 Old Street
London EC1V 9HX

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Citius. Altius. Fortius. Eight new artworks for 2012.

2012-08-02T23:50:00.000+01:00

In 2011, the ODA (Olympic Development Authority) allowed me access to the London Olympic Games construction site. I was granted permission to take away a small amount of the thick, wooden screening used as perimeter fencing, whilst the site was under construction. Seen below in a photograph shot by David Bailey in 2007 (Stratford 2007).

With their generosity, these unique commemorative artworks have come in to being. Celebrating Olympian achievement, they feature original ephemera (including an athletics ticket) from the 1948 London Olympics. Each artwork is a homage to Jasper Johns target paintings (1955-65), and combines a juxtaposition of two famed Olympians, along with the year and location in which they competed. The five rings have been applied within this target motif.Each artwork is available to buy. Overseas delivery available.

If you are interested in buying any of the pieces, send an email using the link here > 2012 artworks

Bob Emil.
40 x 55 x 1.8 cm. Acrylic, collage, pen, oil pastel on marine plywood.
Olympians: Bob Beamon. USA. Gold medal. Mexico City 1968. Long jump.
Emil Zátopek. Czechoslovakia. Gold medal. Helsinki 1952. 5,000 & 10,000 metres, Marathon.

David Ed.
40 x 55 x 1.8 cm. Acrylic, collage, pen, oil pastel on marine plywood.
Olympians: David Wilkie. UK. Gold medal. Montreal 1976. 200 metres breaststroke.
Ed Moses. USA. Gold medal. Los Angeles 1984. 400 metres hurdles.

Fanny Johnny.
40 x 55 x 1.8 cm. Acrylic, collage, pen, oil pastel on marine plywood.
Olympians:Fanny Blankers-Koen. Holland. London 1948. 100 & 200 metres, 80 metres hurles, 4 x 100 metres relay.
Johnny Weismuller. USA. Gold medal. Paris 1924. 100 & 400 metres freestyle, 4 x 200 metres freestyle.

Flo David.
40 x 55 x 1.8 cm. Acrylic, collage, pen, oil pastel on marine plywood.
Olympians: Florence Griffith-Joyner. USA. Gold medal. Seoul 1988. 100 metres & 200 metres, 4 x 100 metres relay.
David Hemery. UK. Gold medal. Mexico City 1968. 400 metres hurdles.

Greg Vera.
40 x 55 x 1.8 cm. Acrylic, collage, pen, oil pastel on marine plywood.
Olympians: Greg Louganis. USA. Gold medal. Seoul 1988. Diving.
Věra Čáslavská. Czechoslovakia. Gold medals. Mexico City 1968. Gymnastics.

Nadia Mark.
40 x 55 x 1.8 cm. Acrylic, collage, pen, oil pastel on marine plywood.
Olympians: Nadia Comăneci. Romania. Gold medals. Montreal 1976. Gymnastics.
Mark Spitz. USA. 7 gold medals. Munich 1972. Swimming.

Olga Al.
40 x 55 x 1.8 cm. Acrylic, collage, pen, oil pastel on marine plywood.
Olympians: Olga Korbut. Belarus. Gold medal. Munich 1972. Gymnastics.
Alfred Oerter. USA. Gold medal. Tokyo 1964. Discus.

Pat Jesse.
40 x 55 x 1.8 cm. Acrylic, collage, pen, oil pastel on marine plywood.
Olympians: Pat McCormick. USA. Gold medal. Helsinki 1952. Diving.
Jesse Owens. USA. Gold medal. Berlin 1936. 100 & 200 metres, 4 x 100 relay, long jump.

101 - Limited edition Wiggins Tour Winner celebration print

2012-07-24T14:19:00.000+01:00

In celebration of Bradley Wiggins's phenomenal victory in this year's Tour de France I have created a unique limited edition print - 101.

Available to buy now, from SNAP Galleries, this iconic artwork captures a poignant moment from Sunday 21st July, 2012 - wearing the Mailllot Jaune, Wiggins is seen cresting the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris, the Arc de Triomphe as backdrop, the World Road Racing Champion (and soon to be Stage winner) Mark Cavendish on his wheel.

Centred within the famous RAF Roundel - favoured icon of the British Mod movement, and featured within the WIGGO seen emblazoned on Wiggins's race suits - 101 is sporting history.

Available in a worldwide edition of only 25, this beautiful, signed and numbered archival pigment print (on Hahnemühle Photo Rag 308gsm) is priced at £395. And measures 32 x 35 cm.

101 is the perfect summary of my LE TOUR exhibition.

Get in touch with SNAP Galleries, and buy a copy HERE.
Each buyer will receive a free copy of the LE TOUR book.

LE TOUR EXHIBITION EXTENDED

2012-07-24T12:47:00.000+01:00

In recognition of the extraordinary achievements of Wiggins, Froome, Cavendish and Millar, the LE TOUR exhibition has been extended.

The main closing date of the full exhibition is now Tuesday 7th August, with a group of selected artworks to continue in the lower gallery. Many pieces have now sold, including the King of the Mountains prints, many of which are now sold out. Own a piece of cycling history, and pay a visit to SNAP GAlleries, Piccadilly, London.

CONGRATULATIONS - BRADLEY WIGGINS

2012-07-23T11:16:00.000+01:00

Bradley Wiggins takes the 2012 Tour de France. And rides himself into the history books. We watched the action unfold at London's Look Mum No Hands, among a mass of jubilant biking folk. In recognition of this extraordinary achievement, the LE TOUR exhibition is to be extended. Come on down and relive past Tour glories. And celebrate the new ones.

LE TOUR EXHIBITION - LAST FEW WEEKS

2012-07-20T14:05:00.000+01:00

Never before has the Tour de France been so celebrated and talked-about in the UK, as it is now. A Briton has never won this century-old cycling race. In addition, the World Road Racing Champion has never competed on home soil for an Olympic gold medal, as part of a Tour de France 'dream team'.

This is the summer of 2012. And cycling has come home.

So if you are a cycling fan, an art lover, or a collector of sporting heritage, make the journey to London's Piccadilly, and drop in to Snap Galleries, in the Piccadilly Arcade. Here the LE TOUR exhibition has been a great success, with visitors, and buyers, from all corners of the globe. It has featured in The Guardian, widely across culture journals, and received some wonderful endorsements:

"..If you are in London, please visit!"Sir Paul Smith

"... the Tour de France has become art." David Millar

All the artworks feature original memorabilia from the Tour de France, and as such are rare artifacts. There is even a feature piece located in the window - fabricated from an actual cycling shoe donated by Bradley Wiggins himself. This artwork is still available to buy, and every bit a commemoration of his amazing achievement in the summer of 2012.

LE TOUR - From Maillot Jaune to Lanterne Rouge
SNAP Galleries
Piccadilly Arcade
London SW1

(closed Sundays)

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Wiggins takes the leader's jersey

2012-07-07T17:33:00.000+01:00

The 2012 Tour de France took on a new complexion today. Team Sky rode a perfect race - delivering the stage victory with Chris Froome, and the new wearer of the coveted Maillot Jaune - Bradley Wiggins.

And in the front window of Snap Galleries, London - MODifications - my tribute artwork to Mr Wiggins, and the rider who became the first British wearer of the Tour's Leader jersey, some fifty years ago almost to the day, Tom Simpson.

This unique artwork features an actual shoe worn, and donated, by Bradley Wiggins. Should you be interested in buying this piece, visit Snap Galleries, Piccadilly, or view online HERE.

Destination Smithfield [complete]

2012-05-23T19:33:00.004+01:00

Destination Smithfield.
Wooden box, acrylic, collage, pen, cycling shoe, hand-forged meat hook. 22 x 50 x 22cm.

In commemoration of the 2012 Smithfield Nocturne, ‘Destination Smithfield’ pays homage to the heritage of this cycling event’s unique location - London’s Smithfield Market. In a pastiche of this ancient livestock market’s many bays, a cycling shoe hangs from a meat hook, decorated in original ephemera sourced from the halls of this six-and-a-half acre Grade II Listed Building.

Market Porter’s dockets, produce-wrapping, and vintage postcards have been formed around the shoe, fashioning a challenging juxtaposition - the ‘fresh fillets’ of the twilight traders, and the fresh legs of the evening’s racing.

The shoe was donated by the 2011 British National Time Trial Championship Alex Dowsett (winner of the 2011 London Nocturne). He rides for Team Sky.

'Destination Smithfield' - nearing completion

2012-05-22T21:01:00.001+01:00

'Destination Smithfield' - new work

2012-05-19T09:16:00.000+01:00

A new project is starting - Nocturne - which will be on show at the London Nocturne 2012, 9th June, 2012. 'Destination Smithfield' will be sold via online auction, to raise money for charity. More soon.