Russell Young

Statement

"My work is sort of soundtrack to my life, loves, experiences and influences. My method of working is to search destroy and create. The images of this series have been collected from newspaper cuttings, e-bag, long correspondence with police departments throughout the world or even given by celebrities themselves. The idea to create "anti-celebrity" portraits was probable a reaction to my former career. However, they turned out to be even more beautiful and iconic. There is undeniably this attitude that is very real, in your face, a beauty that is hard to ignore. My art is a sort of soundtrack to my life, loves, experiences and influences. These would be my heroes that are missing from Art History"

Bio

Russell Young's career began twenty years ago as a celebrity photographer. One of his first assignments was photographing Popstar George Michael for the album cover "Faith". That job established Russell's talent leading to shoots for Morrissey, Springsteen, Dylan and more. His command of the camera segued into music video direction resulting in over 100 videos for MTV. Ten years into his career Young began painting, but his work remained private until 2003. Young revealed his first series of screenprints titled "PIG"; mug shots of film and music icons at Don O'Melveny Gallery, Los Angeles. The show sold out.

Russell has recently collaborated with rock photographer Henry Diltz who allowed him full access to his extensive archives of black and white photographs chronicling rock history from the late 60's and 70's brilliant and candid images of Jimi Hendrix at the Hollywood Bowl, Jim Morrison in concert, Pete Townsend smashing his guitar, and the Rolling Stones featuring Steven Stills on keyboards are masterfully rendered onto canvas illuminating Diltz photographs as only Russell Young can.

Russell is married to actress Finola Hughes and lives with their two young sons Dylan and Cash in New York City and Southern California.