Heard an interview last night on Radio 4's Front Row with Chuck Close, American painter and photographer (self-portrait right). His story, and his work, are just amazing. He initally became known as a photorealist, painting works with such inconceivable attention to detail it is practically impossible to tell them apart from a photograph.
In 1988 he suffered a spinal artery collapse which left him a quadriplegic. Despite his near total paralysis, he was painting again within 8 months, using a brush clenched between his teeth and creating large portraits in low-resolution grid squares which appear as a single, unified
image when viewed from a distance. Kind of like a pixelated version of photo-realism.
Since his injury he has managed to gain some movement back in his arm and now
paints with a brush strapped to his hand.
As well as pixelated portraits of other artists including Philip Glass, Cindy Sherman and Alex Katz, Close's recent subjects have included his family, and even Bill Clinton. He has an exhibition called "Family and Others" which opened yesterday at The White Cube gallery and runs until the 17th November. It includes some quite amazing Daguerrotypes of Kate Moss.
Just amazing, even without reading about the artist his talent is evident, then after finding out the adversity he has overcome makes these painting even more awe-some.
Posted by: Lisa | October 17, 2007 at 04:30 PM
Thanks Lisa.
Posted by: Neil Perkin | October 18, 2007 at 09:34 AM
truly inspiring work and artist
Posted by: megan | May 06, 2009 at 08:09 PM
I love Chuck Close's paintings of Kate Moss. I'm currently writing an artist study on him for my A level. I think its amazing how he can produce such amazing work & when I found out it was with the paint brush inbetween his teeth I really couldn't believe just how good they are!! The Kate Moss paintings make her seems so vunerable as if she is completely out of her comfert zone without glamour & glitz & make-up. I think she is so beautiful in this painting. Chuck Close is truely an insperation.
Posted by: Georgie | May 18, 2009 at 07:52 PM
im thinking about using him for my A level artist to! his work and mind will be legendary!
Posted by: Ceri Toleman | November 04, 2009 at 03:06 PM