David Bowie, the Painter: The Best of His Abstract Work
Photo by David Preston
David Bowie was a man of many talents. The famed singer released 26 studio albums, starred in multiple movies, invented his own virtual world in "Second Life," and even became a published author. But did you know that Bowie also had a passion for painting? In 2016, art collector Alec Whittal launched the exhibition “Bowie Unmasked” at the Art Basel Miami Beach fair. It showcased over 40 paintings by the late musician. These pieces have been re-assembled into an exclusive book called “David Bowie, the Painter” which was released by Thames & Hudson on September 14th 2018.
David Bowie was an English singer and songwriter who released his debut album in 1967. Throughout his musical career, he released numerous critically acclaimed albums, including "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" and "Scary Monsters." In addition to his music, Bowie was also an actor who appeared in films such as “Labyrinth”, "The Man Who Fell to Earth", "Zoolander", and "The Prestige". He also had a successful career as a visual artist, creating paintings and pieces of art. He died on January 10, 2016, at the age of 69. Bowie is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of all time, with his work spanning a variety of genres including rock, pop, soul, and jazz. He was also known for pioneering the glam rock movement and was an icon of the 1990s. Bowie's iconic status was further cemented by his death in 2016, when he released his last single, "Blackstar", and died two days later.
Bowie painted in a variety of styles and themes. He seemed to have no preference for a particular subject or style, and his works included both abstract pieces and portraits of his friends and family. Some of the best examples of Bowie's work are the surrealistic paintings that he created during the "Heroes" period (1977–1979). The paintings from this time period are vibrant, bright and colourful. His work from the "Ziggy Stardust" period (1972–1975) is perhaps more haunting, as it blends surrealism with portraiture. There is also a subtle recurring theme of eyes in Bowie's work, perhaps as a reference to his song "Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud" or as a visual expression of the loneliness he often felt. In the exhibition catalogue, curator Whittal writes: "In Bowie’s work, the eye is omnipresent and appears in a variety of guises, its meaning shifting according to the work in which it appears."
"A Portrait of J.O." by David Bowie, 1976
Bowie first began experimenting with art as a teenager and his work was shown publicly for the first time in 1963 as part of an exhibition called "Loan Exhibition of Young Artists" at the Philomel Gallery in London. In the 1970s, Bowie became a successful celebrity and was able to get his art exhibited in major galleries around the world. Although he had no formal training in art, Bowie worked with a number of high-profile art dealers, including Joseph Musaphia, who exhibited Bowie's work in the "David Bowie Is" show at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2013. Bowie also worked with other artists and even created pieces for other people. In 1996, he designed the set for the play "The Man Who Fell to Earth", which was produced by the New York Theatre Workshop.
Bowie's interest in art began during his teenage years when he experimented with painting and drawing. However, he found little time to continue these hobbies during his rise to fame in the 1960s and 1970s. It wasn't until the 1990s that he seriously picked up his brushes again, continuing to paint right up until his death in 2016. Although there is no one clear reason as to why Bowie became an artist later in his life, it's likely that he was motivated by a combination of nostalgia, artistic expression, and boredom. During the 1990s, Bowie found himself at a loose end. After the release of his album "Outside", he had no plans to tour, and he said he was "just marking time really." The break he decided to take from his prolific career in music may have been what drove him back to art, where he could express himself without having to write songs or record albums.
There are four distinct stages in Bowie's artistic development: his juvenilia, the high modernism of his "Ziggy Stardust" period (1972–1975), his 1980s paintings and the late works of the 2000s. Bowie's juvenilia was largely influenced by comic books and science fiction, and it was typified by simple, cartoonish drawings. Bowie's high modernism was inspired by movements like Bauhaus, Futurism, Dada, and Surrealism. This was typified by the "Exile" series (1988-1990), which combined media including collage and drawing. This was followed by the "New York Paintings" (1980-1988), which were more abstract and minimalist. Bowie's final creative period was typified by his exploration of the relationship between abstraction, figuration and portraiture.
“Child in Berlin” by David Bowie, 1977
David Bowie also collected art. In fact, he was a true connoisseur. His taste was eclectic, but he had a particular penchant for British artists from the early 20th century. He once said that his favourite artist was Graham Sutherland, and he also loved the work of Francis Bacon and Henry Moore.
Bowie's collection wasn't just limited to paintings, either. He also had an impressive collection of sculptures, which included works by Moore and Barbara Hepworth. He was also a big fan of Marcel Duchamp and owned several of his famous ready-mades.
In addition to being a collector, Bowie was also a generous patron of the arts. He supported many young artists during his lifetime and helped to promote British art on the international stage.
Bowie's love of art was evident in his own work, which often drew on elements of surrealism, Dadaism and pop art. He was a true original, and his influence on the art world is still felt today.
He even lent pieces from his collection to major museums, such as the Tate Modern in London. One of his most famous artworks is the painting "Self-Portrait with Dinosaur" by Frank Auerbach, which he gifted to the museum in 2002.
Bowie's art collection was truly world-class, and it's a shame that we'll never get to see it on display in a museum. But his legacy as a collector and champion of the arts will live on.
David Bowie was a prolific artist, but despite his fame as a singer, many people were unaware of his love for Art as well as his own artistic talent. He created abstract pieces, portraits and landscapes, and he experimented with a range of different styles and techniques. His work can be found in the "David Bowie, the Painter" book, which was published on September 14th, 2018.
You can also visit our collection for a wide range of contemporary, abstract work!