Work by Jamie McCartney

The Work

Gallery Work

Jamie's past works, from which his new series derive, often involved the application of life casting. Moving on from this, he is now producing casts of the body in various animal hides to stunning effect. These are part of the wider Sexidermy™ series. His other series, Objets d'aft™, is the extension of a move towards Conceptual Art and Surrealism, which Jamie began many years ago. These works, which combine whimsy and controversy, can make one think about wider concepts or just have a good chuckle. Having now crystallised these ideas and found his direction, these two series look set to dominate Jamie's gallery work for the coming year. This will culminate in a one-man show in 2008 at a West End gallery. Jamie's work has often appeared in the press and on television and can be seen at various London art fairs. This new work will debut at the Body of Work exhibition in July 2007. See examples below:

Actaeon - Influenced by ancient leather armour, Actaeon is the first of Jamie’s pieces, which use animal hide to create the human body. To create this male torso from deer hide Jamie was inspired by Greek mythology. Actaeon is out hunting when he happens upon the virgin Goddess Artemis, naked and preparing to bathe. It was forbidden to see her nude and to prevent him revealing what he saw Artemis changes him into a stag. Terrified, he runs off, pursued by his own hounds, which tear him to pieces. Unaware they have killed their master they search for him, howling with grief. The Centaur Chiron makes a sculpture of Actaeon, so lifelike it soothes their despair.

Armadildo - One of his Sexidermy™ pieces, combining taxidermy with erotic sculpture. The animal's tail is replaced with a phallus. Only the first couple of segments are original. The rest is artificial, sculpted and painted to look exactly like part of the animal. This blend of whimsy and controversy is representative his Contemporary Surrealism.

Sculptures may be purchased directly from Jamie or through the galleries currently representing him:

Gallery Kaleidoscope, 64/66 Willesden Lane, Kilburn, London NW6 7SX.
Sheridan Russell Gallery, 16 Crawford Street, Marylebone, London W1H 1BS.
Garden Architecture, 259 Munster Road, Fulham, London SW6 6BW.
Adonis Gallery, 1b Coleherne Road, Earl's Court, London SW10 9BS.
Pond Galleries, 26 The Pavement, Clapham Common, London SW4 0JA.
Chloe Alberry, 84 Portobello Road, Notting Hill, London W11 2QS.
Atelier 43, 17 Rue Maréchal Joffre, 06400 Cannes, PACA, France.

Commissions

Jamie also works to commission in between making his gallery pieces and public artworks. He works with many processes and materials from lifecast portraiture and body casts to steel sculptures, assemblage and mobiles.

Lifecast Portrait and Torso Commissions

Reclining Nude - One of Jamie’s lifecast body portraits. Deliberate in his choice of pose to accentuate her serpentine body and abstracted in part to present her sensual curves to greatest effect, this nude begs you to touch her. Finishing the cast at her nose, she appears to be wearing a mask. It is sheer lustrous, sensual beauty with a touch of the erotic and a popular pose for many of his lifecasting commissions of women.

Lifecasting is a process of taking a mould from the body to produce a kind of 3D photographic sculpture. In the right hands it is a powerful tool which has a long history and an established following. The works of celebrated modern artists Marc Quinn, Gavin Turk and Sarah Lucas have led to the acceptance of this medium as a serious sculptural process. Just like portrait photography, lifecasting is so much more than simply copying the body but is instead another tool for the artist to capture his subject. The process lends itself perfectly to portrait sculpture and Jamie uses it to great effect to portray his clients in a wonderful, vital way.

Commissioned work covers every conceivable avenue. Jamie creates adult and child portraits, busts and torso. In fact any part can be reproduced this way or even whole bodies. Much in demand for his sensual lifecasts of breasts, bums and backs Jamie has a knack of choosing just the right pose to show you at your best. It's very exciting to have a nude of yourself in the home or garden and no one has to know it is you, unless you want them to...

Jamie has been making lifecasts for over twenty years and his clients include several household names. However, lifecasting commissions needn't be expensive. There are many different materials to choose from to suit any situation and any budget. Everyone can now afford a sculpture of themselves or their loved ones at their best.

Visit my lifecasting pages for examples...

Sculpture Commissions

Jamie works in many materials and with many different processes. Feel free to discuss any ideas you may have. Jamie is happy to collaborate with you to produce your concept or will create a unique, one-off piece, designed specially for your chosen location.

Visit my sculpture pages for examples...

For more information visit the commissions or contact pages.