DAN PEARCE LAUNCHES DNA AT CLARENDON FINE ART
Artist to the stars, Dan Pearce launches DNA, his biggest solo show to date at Clarendon Fine Art’s flagship Covent Garden gallery on 23 March, before taking the ambitious, mixed-media collection on tour to Leeds and Bournemouth.
The acclaimed artist has been making waves in the art world for the past decade with his bold and ambitious mixed media pieces, winning him a host of A-list collectors from Idris Elba, Anthony Joshua, Boy George and 50 Cent, to will.i.am, Rag N Bone Man and Premiership footballers and earning him the title of “one of the UK’s most collectable, emerging artists,” by Shortlist.
His latest show, DNA turns Dan’s name inside-out, exploring his own cultural identity and the graffiti, hip-hop, retro tech, street style, classic brands and pop art iconography which have had a lifelong impact on his art.
The artist’s work employs spray paint, hand-painted acrylics, lenticular, neon lights, objects, 3D printing, screen-printing, textured resin, gold leaf and collage, as well as his own photography and street art.
Pearce describes his style as ‘revealing the unexpected,’ due to his unique technique of crafting multiple layers to make tactile pieces that can be admired from a distance or up-close to appreciate the clever details, adding depth to the artworks’ stories through mediums like photo collages or graffiti quotes in the background, found objects, smashed glass or subtle images weaving their way around the frame itself.
The latest collection has taken three months and includes bold and subversive lenticular pieces, fusing street art with the influences of Warhol and Lichtenstein and featuring his trademark skulls, butterflies and icons including Marilyn Monroe and Salvador Dali.
Throughout his career, Pearce has invited the viewer to reassess our connection to iconic imagery of the Queen, and this culminates in the exhibition’s new, A Class Apart piece, which shows the late royal inked with a “Queen of Hearts” tattoo and surrounded by affectionate graffiti.
Other key pieces in the show include A Flight of Fantasy, which sees graffiti and collage-created black butterflies combining to form a skull and a black, metal butterfly hovering over a patchwork of bold, graffiti-emblazoned brand iconography.
Clarendon Fine Art spokesperson, Helen Swaby says: “We are thrilled to launch Dan’s biggest show yet, which is the culmination of 10 successful years in the art world. DNA showcases Dan’s creativity, versatility and astonishing originality and offers collectors a unique opportunity to acquire new works from an artist who is in huge demand.”
The artist grew up in Merseyside, where he studied art before returning to his birthplace of Australia. He fell in love with urban art during a seven-year stint in Sydney, where he honed his creative skills.
He set about mixing modern day influences of Dface and Shepard Fairey with his lifelong love of Warhol and Lichtenstein to carve his own, unique style.
A keen philanthropist, Pearce has used his work to raise funds for a host of major charities, including NHS Charities Together, YoungMinds and Shelter via his multi-platform Hope collaboration with The Prodigy frontman and artist Maxim; the Australian Red Cross following the bush fires, The Peter Jones Foundation, WWF, The British Heart Foundation, The Amy Winehouse Foundation and the annual, Acton Homeless charity auction.
Pearce is the resident artist for London’s most exclusive private members’ club, Tramp after impressing the owners so much with a solo exhibition celebrating the venue’s golden anniversary, the manager bought most of the exhibition collection for a major club revamp.
He exhibits internationally and throughout the UK and his art is held in private and public collections worldwide.
The DNA solo show will open with a private view and public launch on 23 March at Clarendon Fine Art in Covent Garden, where the artist will be making a personal appearance. It will then move to Whitewall Galleries Leeds on 25 March and Whitewall Galleries Bournemouth on 26 March.
