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Jonathan Yeo

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Jonathan Yeo
Yeo in 2012
Born (1970-12-18) 18 December 1970 (age 53)
London, England
NationalityBritish
EducationWestminster School
Known forPortraiture
SpouseShebah Ronay
Children2
FatherTim Yeo

Jonathan Yeo (born 18 December 1970[1]) is a British artist of contemporary portraiture who was educated at Westminster School. He rose to prominence for having painted Kevin Spacey, Dennis Hopper, and Cara Delevingne, among others. GQ described him as "one of the world's most in-demand portraitists."

In 2007, his unauthorised portrait of American president George W. Bush, created from cuttings of pornographic magazines and shown in London, New York and Los Angeles, brought him worldwide notoriety. Yeo's 2016 mid-career survey at the Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Castle[2] followed a retrospective at the National Portrait Gallery, London, in 2013[3] and the Lowry in Manchester in 2014.[4]

Yeo was the subject of a BBC Culture Show Special in September 2013.[5] The monograph The Many Faces of Jonathan Yeo, featuring works from throughout his career, was published by London-based publisher Art/Books in the same month.[6] His paintings are included within the permanent collections of the National Portrait Gallery, London, the Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle, The Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Castle in Denmark, and the Royal Collection.

Early life and career

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Yeo was born in London in 1970, to Tim Yeo, a Conservative MP. As a child, he suffered Hodgkin's disease. He lives with wife Shebah Ronay and two daughters in London, where he originates.[7] In the early 2000s, he became known for his contemporary realist portraits of well-known figures. His subjects include actors Dennis Hopper, Jude Law, Kristin Scott Thomas, Lily Cole, Nicole Kidman, Turner Prize-winning artist Grayson Perry, Savile Row tailor Ozwald Boateng, the former Danish prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and media tycoon Rupert Murdoch.[8] In 2005, his portrait of Erin O'Connor was used to advertise London's National Portrait Gallery around the world. The painting was used as the front cover of '500 Portraits', a survey of the BP Portrait prize published in 2011.[9]

Yeo was commissioned by the House of Commons as the official Election Artist for the 2001 general election, and he painted the leaders of the three largest parties. His triptych of Tony Blair, William Hague, and Charles Kennedy, entitled, 'Proportional Representation', was made up of canvases sized according to the subjects' popularity.

In January 2008, Yeo's official portrait of former prime minister Tony Blair was unveiled and struck a public chord with its clear Iraq war reference. It showed an older and wearier-looking Blair wearing a red poppy - a symbol of war remembrance for the British.[10] In line with the political subjects that have featured throughout his work, in 2009, Yeo painted a full-length portrait of David Cameron just before his election to Prime Minister, which was sold at auction in 2010 for £200,000.[11][12]

Between 2010 and 2012, Yeo created works based on cosmetic surgery procedures. He presents the faces of women in pre and post-operative states, as a counterpoint to the traditional portrait. This collection of paintings was the subject of two solo exhibitions, 'You're Only Young Twice' at Lazarides in London[13] and ‘(I’ve Got You) Under My Skin' at Circle Culture Gallery in Berlin [1].

'Jonathan Yeo Portraits' at the National Portrait Gallery, London (2013-2014) included a selection of new and older works by Yeo. The new portraits included individuals who have made a significant mark on their field of expertise, including: the arts, theatre, and politics. Sitters include Doreen Lawrence, Kevin Spacey, Damien Hirst, Malala Yousafzai, and Grayson Perry.

In 2014, the exhibition was shown at The Lowry Gallery in Salford[14] and in 2015, it was on display at the Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Castle in Denmark in honour of Yeo having painted the first official portrait of the former Danish prime minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt.

Yeo is art consultant at Soho House group.[15][16] He has co-curated the clubs worldwide, and designed the now notorious, pornographic leaf wallpaper that adorns several of its walls, including the Dean Street Townhouse in London and Soho House, Berlin. Jonathan Yeo was a judge for the 2010 Art Fund Prize for museums.[17] In 2014 Yeo was on the panel of judges for the BP Portrait Prize.[18]

In April 2011, Queen Elizabeth II commissioned Yeo to paint a portrait of David Attenborough for the Royal Collection.[19]

In February 2016, Yeo's portrait of the actor Kevin Spacey in the role of President Francis J. Underwood, from the Netflix series House of Cards, was unveiled at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC.[20] Spacey unveiled the painting in character as the fictional President Underwood, joking "I'm pleased the Smithsonian continues to prove itself as a worthwhile institution. I'm one step closer to convincing the rest of the country that I am the president."[21] Netflix made a short film of the collaboration between the museum, actor, and artist to promote the fourth season of House of Cards, which premiered that same evening.[22]

In March 2016, Yeo's largest retrospective to date opened at the Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Castle in Denmark.[23] A new series of paintings of the actor and model Cara Delevingne was unveiled at the museum as part of the exhibition. This series of portraits was made over an eighteen-month period and is concerned with image making and performed identity.[24] Yeo said: "the way we manipulate and read self-portrait images, or 'selfies', in the last five years has far more in common with the activity of the 16th-century portrait artists and audiences than any art movement since the birth of photography".[25] A portrait of the former Danish Prime Minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, was also unveiled at the opening of this exhibition and will remain at the museum as part of its permanent collection.[2] A new monograph, titled 'In The Flesh', was published by the museum to accompany the show.

In May 2024, Yeo's portrait of King Charles III, His Majesty King Charles III, was unveiled; the portrait, which was painted between June 2021 and November 2023, a period encompassing Charles' accession to the throne, was the first official portrait of the King since his coronation. Measuring about 8 feet 6 inches (2.59 m) by 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m), the work is in a vivid red and shows Charles in the uniform of the Welsh Guards.[26] The BBC described it as "a vibrant painting", and Queen Camilla reportedly told Yeo approvingly: "Yes, you've got him."[26]

Controversy

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Yeo created a controversial portrait of George W Bush in 2007, entitled 'Bush', which gained worldwide attention. After a commission to paint the US president was reportedly awarded and then withdrawn, Yeo created an image of the President anyway, making a collaged portrait from pornography.[27] The work led to Yeo exhibiting more collages – mainly portraits and nudes – made in the same way.

At the first of these exhibitions in 2008, Yeo presented 'Blue Period' at Lazarides Gallery, owned by Steve Lazarides, a specialist dealer in outsider and street art, known for launching Banksy's career. The show included the Bush porn portrait as well as new collages of Hugh Hefner and Lucian Freud.[28]

'Porn in the USA', Yeo's first US solo show, was staged by Lazarides, taking place in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and was met by critical acclaim. Following on from the success of 'Bush' (2007), this exhibition included portraits of Tiger Woods and Sarah Palin created from pornographic collage cutouts.[29][30][31]

Yeo had two works involved in the dispute over the sale of the late Dennis Hopper's art collection. He was one of only three artists to have been commissioned by Hopper to paint his portrait, the other two being Andy Warhol and Julian Schnabel. Hopper described his work as 'timeless and exquisite'.[32]

Critical reception

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In his Guardian review of the Blair portrait, Jonathan Jones accuses Yeo and his subject of conspiring to manipulate the image of the former PM, claiming that, 'Blair is a tacit co-conspirator who walked in wearing the poppy, then sat as bleak as he looks here, in invitation to the artist to home in on that tell-tale paper flower.

Some commentators have suggested that, by making portraits and other work which poke fun at the politicians and celebrities they depict, he risks alienating the very people whom he used to paint very successfully. NPG director Sandy Nairne was reported as being concerned about Yeo pushing the porn collage theme too far saying 'the Bush collage was a riposte. And there was a certain logic in that riposte. What is more puzzling is what happens after that.'[33]

Charles Saumarez-Smith, former Director of the National Gallery and Royal Academy, said of the porn-collage of Lucian Freud, 'Yeo is the young rising star of portraiture and Freud is the acknowledged master. It's a homage that has its tradition in the past. Painters would quite often do portraits of other artists they admired. Admittedly this one of Freud is rather different as Yeo has used this other dimension – people's private parts.'[34]

At the launch of Yeo's National Portrait Gallery show, The Guardian described him as 'one of the UK's most highly regarded portrait artists',[35] and GQ named him 'one of the world's most in-demand portraitists'.[36] Malala Yousafzai revealed she was touched that Yeo asked to paint her and 'honoured' that her picture would hang in the National Portrait Gallery.[37]

Notable exhibitions

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Solo shows:

  • The Museum of Danish National History at Frederiksborg Castle 2016 – 20 March – 30 June 2016[38]
  • Exposure, Circle Culture Gallery, Hamburg .10 July 2015 – 28 October 2015[39]
  • The Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne 8 November 2014 – 15 February 2015[40]
  • The Lowry Gallery, 14 March 2014 – 29 June 2014[4]
  • National Portrait Gallery, 11 September 2013 – 5 January 2014[3]
  • (I’ve Got You) Under My Skin, Circle Culture Gallery, Berlin, 9 November 2012 - 28 February 2013[41]
  • You're Only Young Twice, Lazarides, London, 9 December 2011 - 21 January 2012[42]
  • Porn in the USA, Lazarides LA, Beverly Hills, 9 July - 8 August 2010[43]
  • Blue Period, Lazarides, London, 5 June – 11 July 2008[28]
  • Jonathan Yeo's Sketchbook, Eleven, London, 17 February – 17 March 2006

References

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  1. ^ "Jonathan Yeo | Artnet". www.artnet.com. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b "In the Flesh - Jonathan Yeo Portrætter". Frederiksborg (in Danish). 2016. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Jonathan Yeo Portraits - National Portrait Gallery". www.npg.org.uk. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Jonathan Yeo - Portraits: Sat 15 March - Sun 29 June". thelowry.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  5. ^ "BBC World News - the Culture Show, the Many Faces of Jonathan Yeo". Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  6. ^ "The Many Faces of Jonathan Yeo". 30 July 2013. Archived from the original on 21 May 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  7. ^ "My Secret Life: Jonathan Yeo, artist, 40". The Independent. 23 October 2011. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  8. ^ "Jonathan Yeo — Work". Jonathan Yeo. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Artist of the Week - Jonathan Yeo | Widewalls". widewalls.ch/. 13 November 2014. Archived from the original on 22 September 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  10. ^ Hoyle, Ben (15 May 2011). "Tony Blair is blooming, says painter who couldn't keep Iraq out of the picture - Times Online". The Times. Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  11. ^ Willis, Tim (3 February 2010). "Jonathan Yeo goes from porn to politics| Art | This is London". standard.co'uk. Archived from the original on 6 February 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  12. ^ Pugh, Becky (3 February 2010). "Do we ever like portraits of ourselves?". www.telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  13. ^ "Lazarides // Jonathan Yeo // Exhibition // You're Only Young Twice". lazinc.com. 9 December 2011. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  14. ^ "Event Detail - Jonathan Yeo - Portraits - Jonathan Yeo - Portraits". thelowry.com/. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  15. ^ Slenske, Michael (7 February 2011). "Room Service - Ralph Lauren Magazine". entertainment.ralphlauren.com. Archived from the original on 7 February 2011.
  16. ^ "For the Sake of Hotel Art: Dean Street Townhouse's Naughty Wallpaper || HotelChatter". 16 August 2010. Archived from the original on 1 September 2010.
  17. ^ "The Art Fund Prize for museums and galleries – Press release". 18 February 2010. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014.
  18. ^ "BP Portrait Award reveals 2014 shortlist". BBC News. 17 April 2014. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  19. ^ Eden, Richard (3 April 2011). "The Queen asks porn artist Jonathan Yeo to draw Sir David Attenborough". www.telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  20. ^ "Kevin Spacey as President Francis J. Underwood | National Portrait Gallery". National Portrait Gallery. 25 March 2016. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  21. ^ Robinson, Will (24 February 2016). "'House of Cards' Frank Underwood Is Heading to the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery". Fortune. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  22. ^ "Frank Underwood Presidential Portrait Unveiling - House of Cards | Smithsonian NPG | Netflix". 22 February 2016. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
  23. ^ "Major international retrospective at The Museum of National History in Denmark opened on 20th March". jonathanyeo.com. 1 February 2016. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  24. ^ "New portraits of Cara Delevingne unveiled at the Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Castle". jonathanyeo.com. 1 February 2016. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  25. ^ Reporters, Telegraph (18 March 2016). "Model Cara Delevingne is 'perfect muse,' says artist Jonathan Yeo". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  26. ^ a b Razzall, Katie (14 May 2024). "King Charles: First official portrait since coronation is unveiled, painted by Jonathan Yeo". BBC News. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  27. ^ "President in the Flesh: 'Porn Bush' Angers Republicans". www.spiegel.de. 30 August 2007. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  28. ^ a b "Jonathan Yeo | Blue Period". Lazinc. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  29. ^ "Porn Art: Sarah Palin Memorialized". HuffPost. 7 February 2010. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  30. ^ Slenske, Michael (1 July 2010). "Artinfo.com". www.artinfo.com. Archived from the original on 10 July 2010.
  31. ^ Behrens, Zach (9 July 2010). "Go See This: Temporary & Edgy Art Gallery in Beverly Hills Gets a Little Naughty". laist.com. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012.
  32. ^ Plentl, Stephanie (13 January 2008). "Jonathan Yeo's sitting targets". www.telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017.
  33. ^ Rebecca Rose, 'The Shock of the Nude' Archived 29 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine, The FT Magazine, 13 September 2008
  34. ^ Brooks, Richard (1 June 2008). "Portrait of Lucian Freud from private parts - Times Online". Archived from the original on 16 June 2011.
  35. ^ "Jonathan Yeo's Malala Yousafzai portrait goes on show for first time". The Guardian. 10 September 2013. Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  36. ^ Hastings, Sophie (9 September 2013). "Interview: Jonathan Yeo at the National Portrait Gallery - GQ Art - GQ.COM (UK)". GQ. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  37. ^ "Jonathan Yeo portrait of Malala to go on display". BBC News. 10 September 2013. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  38. ^ "The Museum Of National History". dnm.dk. 23 March 2016. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016.
  39. ^ "When You Want Exposure: Jonathan Yeo at Circle Culture Gallery | Widewalls". widewalls.ch/. 10 July 2015. Archived from the original on 22 September 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  40. ^ "Jonathan Yeo Portraits at the Laing Art Gallery - Exhibition in Newcastle Upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne - NewcastleGateshead". newcastlegateshead.com. 24 July 2014. Archived from the original on 24 July 2014.
  41. ^ "Past Projects". Circle Culture Gallery. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  42. ^ Barkham, Patrick (5 December 2011). "Jonathan Yeo gets under the skin". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  43. ^ "Jonathan Yeo "Porn in the U.S.A." Exhibition Recap". hypebeast.com. 12 July 2010. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
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