Joe Simpson
Exhibition: ACT
59 Great Portland Street, London UK
13th-28th August 2022
Artist Joe Simpson has asked his favourite British actors, ‘What role have you always wanted to play but have never got the chance?’.
He then creates a narrative painting of them depicted as their choice on a large wide format canvas.
Visit: Online Gallery of all 10 large scale actors’ portraits in the series each with an accompanying black & white acrylic study
Order Online: Postcards and Limited Edition Prints
Watch Trailer: Learn more on the process behind the paintings featuring Olivia Colman, Paddy Considine, Charlie Cox, Warwick Davis, Mark Gatiss, Matt Lucas, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Michael Sheen, John Simm and Eleanor Tomlinson.
These paintings are not just straight portraits, but show the actors in their craft, acting as a character that they’d love to play. Joe says,
‘I think their choices are fascinating, and reveal previously unknown passions and motivations. I’m totally open to interpretations of the question – it can be from an existing film, a book, a play, a short story – the only stipulation is that it’s something that they haven’t done before – so that it’s totally new.”
The series has been over 8 years in the making, and makes its London debut exhibition at 59 Great Portland Street on 13th – 28th August 2022 – open every day 10am – 7pm. Admission Free.
The exhibition is supported by The Crown Estate.
John Simm Society Blog 