Julian Opie

Julian Opie is a contemporary British artist known for his distinctive depictions of figures, portraits, and landscapes. Portraits and animated walking figures, rendered with minimal detail in black line drawing, are hallmarks of the artist's style. The highly stylised treatment Opie gives his subjects is a blend of Pop Art and Minimalism with a contemporary sensibility. 

When asked to describe his approach, Opie said "I often feel that trying to make something realistic is the one criterion I can feel fairly sure of. Another one I sometimes use is, would I like to have it in my room? And I occasionally use the idea, if God allowed you to show Him one [portrait] to judge you by, would this really be it?”

Opie studied with Michael-Craig Martin at Goldsmiths in London during the early 1980s. His earliest works consisted of painted steel sculptures exploring the relationship between visual and spatial observation. He is part of the group know as New British Sculpture, expanding his practice to include painting, installation, and cover art for albums (including Blur).