Lisson Gallery

Julian Opie

The work of Julian Opie is known throughout the world. With public commissions from New York to Seoul, London to Calgary, and an uninterrupted flow of international museum exhibitions, Opie’s distinctive formal language is instantly recognisable and reflects his artistic preoccupation with the idea of representation and the means by which images are perceived and understood. “Everything you see is a trick of the light,” Opie writes. “Light bouncing into your eye, light casting shadows, creating depth, shapes, colours. Turn off the light and it’s all gone. We use vision as a means of survival and it’s essential to take it for granted in order to function, but awareness allows us to look at looking and by extension look at ourselves and be aware of our presence. Drawing, drawing out the way that process feels and works brings the awareness into the present and into the real world, the exterior world.” Always exploring different techniques both cutting edge and ancient, Opie plays with ways of seeing through reinterpreting the vocabulary of everyday life; his reductive style evokes both a visual and spatial experience of the world around us. Drawing influence from classical portraiture, Egyptian hieroglyphs and Japanese woodblock prints, as well as public signage, information boards and traffic signs, the artist connects the clean visual language of modern life, with the fundamentals of art history.


Julian Opie was born in London in 1958 and lives and works in London. He graduated from Goldsmith’s School of Art, London in 1982. Exhibitions have been staged at Berardo Museum, Lisbon, Portugal (2020); Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery, Japan (2019); Gerhardsen Gerner, Oslo, Norway (2019); The National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia (2018); National Portrait Gallery, London, UK (2017); Suwon Ipark Museum of Art, Korea (2017); Fosun Foundation, Shanghai, China (2017); Fundacion Bancaja, Valencia, Spain (2017); Kunsthalle Helsinki, Finland (2015); Museum of Contemporary Art Krakow (MoCAK), Poland (2014); National Portrait Gallery, London, UK (2011); IVAM, Valencia,
Spain (2010); MAK, Vienna, Austria (2008); CAC Malaga, Spain (2006); Neues Museum, Nuremberg, Germany (2003); Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, UK (2001); Kunstverein Hannover, Germany (1994) and Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, UK (1985). Major group exhibitions include 'I Want! I Want! Art & Technology' at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery, Birmingham, UK (2017); 'This Is Not The Reality. What Kind Of Reality?', 57th Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy (2017); the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK (2016); Barbican Art Gallery, London, UK (2014); Tate Britain, London, UK (2013); the Shanghai Biennale (2006); 11th Biennial of Sydney (1998); documenta 8, Kassel, Germany (1987); and XIIème Biennale de Paris (1985). Public projects include 'Walking in Taipei', Taipei, Taiwan and 'Walking in Hong Kong', Tower 535, Hong Kong (2016); Arendt & Medernach, Luxembourg (2016); Heathrow Terminal 1 (1998); and the prison Wormwood Scrubs, London (1994); as well as public work for hospitals, such as the Lindo Wing, St. Mary's Hospital, London (2012) and Barts & the London Hospital (2003). His design for the band Blur’s album 'Best of Blur' (2000) was awarded the Music Week CADS for Best Illustration in 2001.

Recent, current and forthcoming projects

'Julian Opie: JO.VR/GF15@MOSS', Galleri F15, Moss, Norway (21 October – 6 March, 2023)

Winter night 1. , 2021

Julian Opie
Winter night 1. , 2021

Aluminium, nylon and lights 151.2 x 151.5 x 9 cm / 59 1/2 x 59 5/8 x 3 1/2 in

Summer 1. , 2021

Julian Opie
Summer 1. , 2021

Powder coated aluminium 195 x 205.5 x 25 cm / 76 3/4 x 80 7/8 x 9 3/4 in

Summer 2. , 2021

Julian Opie
Summer 2. , 2021

Powder coated aluminium 193.3 x 209 x 25 cm / 76 x 82 1/4 x 9 3/4 in

Winter head 1. , 2021

Julian Opie
Winter head 1. , 2021

Auto paint on aluminium 80 x 80 x 4.1 cm / 31 1/2 x 31 1/2 x 1 1/2 in

Winter head 2. , 2021

Julian Opie
Winter head 2. , 2021

Auto paint on aluminium 80 x 80 x 4.1 cm / 31 1/2 x 31 1/2 x 1 1/2 in

Old Street December 11. , 21

Julian Opie
Old Street December 11. , 21

Paint on metal 229.8 x 229.8 x 5 cm / 90 3/8 x 90 3/8 x 1 7/8 in

Old Street December 12. , 2021

Julian Opie
Old Street December 12. , 2021

Paint on metal 230 x 230 x 1.5 cm / 90 1/2 x 90 1/2 x 1/2 in

Ducks. , 2021

Julian Opie
Ducks. , 2021

Continuous computer animation on 3 double sided LED panels 60 x 80 x 20 cm / 23 1/2 x 31 1/2 x 7 3/4 in

Seagulls 3. , 2021

Julian Opie
Seagulls 3. , 2021

Continuous computer animation on 6 double sided LED panels 30 x 40 x 20 cm / 11 3/4 x 15 3/4 x 7 3/4 in

Apartments 1.

Julian Opie
Apartments 1.

2021
Powder coated aluminium 230.3 x 476.5 x 25 cm / 90 5/8 x 187 1/2 x 9 3/4 in

Folder. , 2020

Julian Opie
Folder. , 2020

Auto paint on aluminium 182.6 x 83 x 3 cm / 71 7/8 x 32 5/8 x 1 1/8 in

Cow 2. , 2020

Julian Opie
Cow 2. , 2020

Aluminium, nylon and lights 192 x 289.6 x 9.5 cm / 75 1/2 x 114 x 3 5/8 in

Coloured runners 3. , 2020

Julian Opie
Coloured runners 3. , 2020

Continuous computer animation on 55? LCD screen 121.5 x 68.6 cm 47 3/4 x 27 in

Old Street in May 2. , 2020

Julian Opie
Old Street in May 2. , 2020

Vinyl on aluminium stretcher 229 x 420.5 x 3.8 cm / 90 1/8 x 165 1/2 x 1 1/2 in

Headphones. , 2020

Julian Opie
Headphones. , 2020

Auto paint on aluminium 183 x 80.5 x 3.2 cm / 72 x 31 5/8 x 1 1/4 in

Old Street May 8. , 2020

Julian Opie
Old Street May 8. , 2020

Auto paint on aluminium 209.3 x 141.2 x 5 cm / 82 3/8 x 55 1/2 x 1 7/8 in

Old Street May 2. , 2020

Julian Opie
Old Street May 2. , 2020

Aluminium, nylon and lights 185 x 204 x 9 cm / 72 3/4 x 80 1/4 x 3 1/2 in

Old Street August 12. , 2020

Julian Opie
Old Street August 12. , 2020

Aluminium, nylon and lights 225 x 302 x 9.5 cm / 88 1/2 x 118 7/8 x 3 5/8 in

Blue shirt. , 2019

Julian Opie
Blue shirt. , 2019

Auto paint on aluminium 200 x 177 cm / 78 5/8 x 69 5/8 in

Dark glasses. , 2019

Julian Opie
Dark glasses. , 2019

Acrylic paint on stone 70 x 62 x 3 cm / 27 1/2 x 24 3/8 x 1 1/8 in

Woollen cap. , 2019

Julian Opie
Woollen cap. , 2019

Acrylic paint on stone 70 x 62 x 3 cm / 27 1/2 x 24 3/8 x 1 1/8 in

Teresa Jeremy Amelia Sam. , 2019

Julian Opie
Teresa Jeremy Amelia Sam. , 2019

Aluminium, nylon and lights 290 x 300 x 12 cm / 114 1/8 x 118 x 4 5/8 in

Beanie. , 2019

Julian Opie
Beanie. , 2019

Auto paint on aluminium 200 x 117 cm / 78 5/8 x 46 in

Mark 1. , 2019

Julian Opie
Mark 1. , 2019

Auto paint on aluminium with corian base 135 x 64 x 2.5 cm / 53 1/8 x 25 1/8 x 7/8 in

Walking in New York 1. , 2019

Julian Opie
Walking in New York 1. , 2019

Auto paint on aluminium 240 x 273 cm / 94 3/8 x 107 3/8 in

Diamond earring. , 2019

Julian Opie
Diamond earring. , 2019

Auto paint on aluminium 200 x 177 cm / 78 5/8 x 69 5/8 in

Sam Amelia Jeremy Teresa. , 2019

Julian Opie
Sam Amelia Jeremy Teresa. , 2019

Aluminium, nylon and lights 290 x 300 x 12 cm 114 1/8 x 118 x 4 5/8 in

Walking in Melbourne. 8. , 2018

Julian Opie
Walking in Melbourne. 8. , 2018

Vinyl on wooden stretcher 250 x 284.2 x 3.5 cm / 98 3/8 x 111 7/8 x 1 3/8 in

Grazing sheep. 2. , 2017

Julian Opie
Grazing sheep. 2. , 2017

Continuous computer animation on 46” LCD screen 58.5 x 102.7 x 11.5 cm / 23 x 40 3/8 x 4 1/2 in

People. 23. Coloured , 2017

Julian Opie
People. 23. Coloured , 2017

Continuous computer animation on 22” LCD screen 40 x 40 x 11 cm / 15 3/4 x 15 3/4 x 4 1/4 in

Beach head. 10. , 2017

Julian Opie
Beach head. 10. , 2017

Paint on overlaid aluminium panel 190 x 156 cm / 74 3/4 x 61 3/8 in

Corey walking. , 2016

Julian Opie
Corey walking. , 2016

LED double sided monolith 210 x 90 x 30 cm / 82 5/8 x 35 3/8 x 11 3/4 in

Estuary. , 2016

Julian Opie
Estuary. , 2016

Continuous computer animation on 46” LCD screen 58.5 x 102.7 x 11.5 cm / 23 x 40 3/8 x 4 1/2 in

Country Road. , 2016

Julian Opie
Country Road. , 2016

Continuous computer animation on 46” LCD screen 58.5 x 102.7 x 11.5 cm / 23 x 40 3/8 x 4 1/2 in

Andrezy. , 2016

Julian Opie
Andrezy. , 2016

Auto paint on aluminium 180 x 144 cm / 70 7/8 x 56 3/4 in

Taxi Driver., 2015

Julian Opie
Taxi Driver., 2015

LED wall mounted 196 x 112 x 15 cm approx. / 77 1/8 x 44 1/8 x 5 7/8 in

Woman with paisley dress , 2015

Julian Opie
Woman with paisley dress , 2015

Inkjet on paper on aluminium 106 x 88.7 x 3 cm / 41 3/4 x 34 7/8 x 1 1/8 in

_014_5685288.jpg.ai. , 2014

Julian Opie
_014_5685288.jpg.ai. , 2014

Inlaid and overlaid acrylic panel 100 x 75 x 3.5 cm approx. / 39.4 x 29.5 x 1.4 in approx

Walking in Shoreditch. 1. , 2014

Julian Opie
Walking in Shoreditch. 1. , 2014

Vinyl on wooden stretcher 220 x 210.3 x 3.5 cm / 86 5/8 x 82 3/4 x 1 3/8 in

Rod and Jen walking. , 2013

Julian Opie
Rod and Jen walking. , 2013

Continuous computer animation on 55” LCD screen 128 x 75 x 7.3 cm / 50 3/8 x 29 1/2 x 2 7/8 in

Exhibitions

  1. Selected Works in Seoul

    Selected Works in Seoul

    2 September – 10 September 2023

  2. Julian Opie: OP.VR@LISSON/London

    Julian Opie: OP.VR@LISSON/London

    3 March – 15 April 2023

  3. Julian Opie

    Julian Opie

    19 November 2022 – 1 April 2023

  4. Julian Opie

    Julian Opie

    4 May – 12 June 2021

  5. Selected works in London

    Selected works in London

    8 December 2020 – 12 January 2021

  6. Julian Opie

    Julian Opie

    7 November 2020 – 11 February 2021

  7. Julian Opie

    Julian Opie

    1 March – 20 April 2019

  8. Julian Opie

    Julian Opie

    11 July – 25 August 2012

  9. Julian Opie

    Julian Opie

    18 November 2011 – 20 January 2012

  10. Julian Opie

    Julian Opie

    15 October – 15 November 2008

  11. Julian Opie: Sara, Bryan and Monique

    Julian Opie: Sara, Bryan and Monique

    4 March – 14 April 2004

  12. Julian Opie: Sculpture Films Paintings

    Julian Opie: Sculpture Films Paintings

    9 February – 17 March 2001

  13. Julian Opie

    Julian Opie

    10 June – 13 July 1996

  14. Julian Opie

    Julian Opie

    24 November 1990 – 5 January 1991

  15. Julian Opie

    Julian Opie

    22 February – 26 March 1988

  16. Julian Opie: Recent Sculpture

    Julian Opie: Recent Sculpture

    11 November – 20 December 1986

  17. Julian Opie: Recent Work

    Julian Opie: Recent Work

    24 April – 25 May 1985

  18. Julian Opie

    Julian Opie

    16 September – 15 October 1983

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