Paul Harvey (artist)

Last updated

Dr. Paul Harvey
Photo of Paul Harvey by Charles Thomson.jpg
Born (1960-05-07) 7 May 1960 (age 63)
Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England,
United Kingdom
NationalityEnglish
Education North Staffordshire Polytechnic
Known forPainting
Notable workThe Stuckists Punk Victorian, Charles Saatchi, Madonna
Movement Stuckism

Paul Arthur Harvey (born 7 May 1960) [1] is a British musician and Stuckist artist, whose work was used to promote the Stuckists' 2004 show at the Liverpool Biennial. [2] His paintings draw on pop art and the work of Alphonse Mucha, [3] and often depict celebrities, including Madonna. [3] [4]

Contents

Life and career

Paul Harvey was born in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. He attended Burton Grammar School (1971–1978) and North Staffordshire Polytechnic (1978–1982) for Foundation Art and BA (Hons) Design. [2] In 1982, he moved to London and played in post-punk bands including Happy Refugees; in 1986 he moved to Newcastle to join Pauline Murray's band. [2] During this time, he co-published-and-drew Mauretania Comics with comics artist Chris Reynolds, and also taught graffiti art. [2]

Paul Harvey's painting on the cover of the book The Stuckists Punk Victorian Paul Harvey, The Stuckists Punk Victorian.jpg
Paul Harvey's painting on the cover of the book The Stuckists Punk Victorian

In 2001, he became a full-time lecturer in graphic design at North Tyneside College (now Tyne Metropolitan College, within The Creative Studios department). The same year, he joined the Stuckism art group, founding a Newcastle branch. [2] In 2002, he joined Murray's re-formed punk band Penetration; he curated the show, Stuck in Newcastle, at the Newcastle Arts Centre, [2] and was a joint winner of the Stuckists Real Turner Prize Show 2002. [5]

He showed with the group at the Wednesbury Museum in 2003. [6] 2003–2005, he gained an MA in Fine Art Practice at the University of Northumbria. [2] [6] In 2004, he was the Stuckist co-curator with Hiroko Oshima of the Ryu Art Group of the show, Members Only: the Artist Group in Japan and Britain, [2] which took place at the Bailiffgate Museum, Alnwick.

Paul Harvey. Charles Saatchi. Paul Harvey, Charles Saatchi.jpg
Paul Harvey. Charles Saatchi.

He was a featured artist in The Stuckists Punk Victorian show at the Walker Art Gallery for the 2004 Liverpool Biennial. [7] His painting of artist and model Emily Mann was used to promote the show. The painting was based on a photograph of Mann by Charles Thomson and was originally intended to promote the Stuckists Real Turner Prize Show 2003: at that time the placard contained the text, "Serota needs a good spanking". [2]

However, according to Harvey, another artist Gina Bold "got really angry and started a debate about the S&M/fetish allusion. She got really pissed off with me because I didn’t agree with her. Then it got a bit nasty—the whole thing was just daft. Then the show got cancelled—and it had all been a complete waste of my fucking time." [2] He later repainted the placard with a woman's face, and it was used in this form for the Walker show. [2]

In 2006, he was one of the ten "leading Stuckists" [8] in the Go West exhibition at Spectrum London gallery. In 2007, he was in the show, I Won't Have Sex with You as Long as We're Married, at the A Gallery. [9]

In 2008, he was commissioned by Job cigarette papers to create a set of campaign posters with a stylistic reference to Alphonse Mucha, who had created earlier paintings for the firm. [10] Harvey made works featuring famous double acts to emphasise the sales message of "The Original Double", a reference to the twin-size packets of papers made by Job. [10] Harvey's enthusiasm for the project came about because "Mucha is one of his heroes", said Mark Ross, the director of Glorious Creative agency managing the campaign. [10] The work created some controversy: [11] Gilbert and George gave their endorsement to the images, but The Mighty Boosh and The White Stripes were not pleased to be featured. [11] Famous Doubles, a show of the original paintings used for the posters, was promoted at the Wanted Gallery in Notting Hill by Fraser Kee Scott, director of the A Gallery. [11] [12]

In 2009, his painting of Charles Saatchi was banned from the window display of the Artspace Gallery in Maddox Street, London, on the grounds that it was "too controversial for the area". [13] [14] It was the centrepiece of the show, Stuckist Clowns Doing Their Dirty Work, the first exhibition of the Stuckists in Mayfair, [13] and showed Saatchi with a sheep at his feet and a halo made from a cheese wrapper. [15] The Saatchi Gallery said that Saatchi "would not have any problem" with the painting's display. [15] The gallery announced they were shutting down the show. [13] Harvey said:

I did it to make Saatchi look friendly and human. It's a ludicrous decision because it's not even a controversial painting. It's just Dairylea cheese and a sheep and some lemons, because he likes lemonade. [15]

The Stuckists considered legal action, and co-ordinated, on the event's Facebook page, a campaign of emails to the gallery, [16] which agreed to exhibit the painting in the window and to continue the show. [16]

In October 2011, Harvey was awarded a PhD on Stuckism at Northumbria University. [1] [16]

As of 2020, Harvey teaches Art & Design at Queen Alexandra Sixth Form College in North Shields. [17]

Paintings

Madonna, by Paul Harvey, 2002. Paul Harvey, Madonna.jpg
Madonna, by Paul Harvey, 2002.

His images are often derived from pictures of film and singing "stars" in magazines, and reworked into a new context. His style references pop art and Alfons Mucha. [3] The incorporation of modern symbols poses an ambiguity as to the amount of irony present, though the artist has claimed that he does not intend this. [18] Possibly his best-known work is a painting of the singer Madonna. The elements mentioned are clearly visible, with small dumbbells around the border, for example Madonna, contrasting with Art Nouveau curves and languidity.

Ford Anglia with Tent and Giotto Tree Paul Harvey, Ford Anglia with Tent and Giotto Tree.jpg
Ford Anglia with Tent and Giotto Tree

He has described his work as strong line defining flat areas of colour, "dealing with ideas of beauty and decoration" and often appropriating images from art history and popular culture. [6]

He describes his methodology: "I use photographs but change the composition on a computer. I project onto canvas, trace the masses with a blue pencil, paint the details freehand with a sable brush, and the larger areas two to four times (for opacity) with Japanese or decorator’s brushes. I often change figures to get it right. I paint incessantly at home—paintings take up to three months." [2]

Notes and references

  1. 1 2 Harvey, Paul (22 June 2012). Stuckism, Punk Attitude and Fine Art Practice: Parallels and Similarities (doctoral thesis). Northumbria University.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Milner, Frank ed. The Stuckists Punk Victorian, p.74, National Museums Liverpool 2004. ISBN   1-902700-27-9
  3. 1 2 3 "Paul Harvey" Archived 29 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine , Spoonfed Media. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
  4. "Paul Harvey, Exhibitions, tickets and dates in London". Archived from the original on 29 August 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2010. Harvey's works often feature celebrities such as Madonna or Emily Mann and stylistically owe a debt both to Pop Art and to the Czech Art Nouveau painter Alfons Mucha.
  5. Prudames, David. "The Real Turner Prize 2002", Culture 24. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  6. 1 2 3 Buckman, David. Dictionary of Artists in Britain since 1945: Volume 1, p. 694, Art Dictionaries, Bristol, 2006. ISBN   0-9532609-5-X
  7. "The Stuckists Punk Victorian" Archived 24 February 2006 at the Wayback Machine , Walker Art Gallery, National Museums Liverpool. Retrieved 19 March 2008.
  8. "Go West", The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 29 March 2008.
  9. "I Won't Have Sex with You as long as We're Married", stuckism.com. Retrieved 19 March 2008.
  10. 1 2 3 Fahy, Michael. "Zig Zag has a new paper round", Crain's Manchester Business, 16 June 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  11. 1 2 3 "Famous doubles", 3:AM Magazine , 19 October 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  12. The Wanted Gallery has since been renamed GG Gallery
  13. 1 2 3 "Charles Saatchi painting gets Stuckists shut down" Archived 28 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine , Spoonfed Media, 25 August 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  14. "Mr Saatchi in the frame" Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine , Evening Standard , 24 August 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  15. 1 2 3 Wilkinson, Tara Loader."Mayfair divided over Charles Saatchi cheese painting", Dow Jones, 26 August 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  16. 1 2 3 Carmichael, Kim. "Painting by North East artist sparks row in art world", The Journal , 28 August 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  17. "Paul Harvey: Queen Alexandria Sixth Form College". 29 April 2020.
  18. "Paul Harvey: Nigella Lawson painting interview", stuckism.com. Retrieved 27 March 2008.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuckism</span> International art movement

Stuckism is an international art movement founded in 1999 by Billy Childish and Charles Thomson to promote figurative painting as opposed to conceptual art. By May 2017 the initial group of 13 British artists had expanded to 236 groups in 52 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Thomson (artist)</span> English artist, poet and photographer

Charles Thomson is an English artist, poet and photographer. In the early 1980s he was a member of The Medway Poets. In 1999 he named and co-founded the Stuckists art movement with Billy Childish. He has curated Stuckist shows, organised demonstrations against the Turner Prize, run an art gallery, stood for parliament and reported Charles Saatchi to the OFT. He is frequently quoted in the media as an opponent of conceptual art. He was briefly married to artist Stella Vine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philip Absolon</span> British artist

Philip Absolon is a British artist and a founder member of the Stuckists art group, exhibiting in the group shows, including The Stuckists Punk Victorian at the Walker Art Gallery in 2004, and taking part in Stuckist demonstrations against the Turner Prize. He has had long-term unemployment problems, depicted in his work with imagery of skeletons; his other main subject is cats, which he studies and depicts in motion.

Peter McArdle is an English artist, member of the Stuckists art group and gallery owner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Machine</span> English artist, poet and writer

Joe Machine is an English artist, poet and writer. He is a founding member of the Stuckists art group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesse Richards</span> American painter

Jesse Beau Richards is a painter, filmmaker and photographer from New Haven, Connecticut and was affiliated with the international movement Stuckism. He has been described as "one of the most provocative names in American underground culture," and "the father of remodernist cinema."

<i>The Stuckists Punk Victorian</i> 2004 art exhibition in Liverpool, England

The Stuckists Punk Victorian was the first national gallery exhibition of Stuckist art. It was held at the Walker Art Gallery and Lady Lever Art Gallery in Liverpool from 18 September 2004 to 20 February 2005 and was part of the 2004 Liverpool Biennial.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eamon Everall</span> English Stuckist artist and educator

Eamon Everall is an English artist and educator. He was one of the 12 founder members of the Stuckists art group. He paints in a "neo-cubist" style, with subjects from life worked on over a long period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Bourne (artist)</span> British artist and painter

John Bourne is a British artist and painter, living and working in Wales, and a member of the Stuckists art movement. He founded the Wrexham Stuckists group in 2001 and has been exhibited in the group's shows since then, including The Stuckists Punk Victorian. He has also taken part in Stuckist demonstrations against the Turner Prize. The subject matter for his paintings, which are done in a simplified style, comes from his memories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachel Jordan</span> English painter

Rachel Jordan is a British artist and has been a frequent guest exhibitor with the Stuckists. For Stuckist shows she created satirical figurative paintings; however, her main body of work is abstract paintings and drawings, alluding to cellular forms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elsa Dax</span> French painter

Elsa Dax is a French painter and a member of the Stuckists art movement. Major themes in her work are myth, legend and fairytale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuckism in Australia</span>

Stuckism is an art movement that began in London, England, in 1999. In 2000, Melbourne artist Regan Tamanui started the first international branch of the movement. As of 2010, there are seven Australian Stuckist groups, who have held shows—sometimes concurrently with UK activities—received coverage in the Australian press and on TV, and also been represented in UK shows. The Stuckists take a strong pro-painting and anti-conceptual art stance, and were co-founded by Charles Thomson and Billy Childish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuckist demonstrations</span> Art group activities

Stuckist demonstrations since 2000 have been a key part of the Stuckist art group's activities and have succeeded in giving them a high-profile both in Britain and abroad. Their primary agenda is the promotion of figurative painting and opposition to conceptual art.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuckism in the United States</span>

The Stuckism art movement was started in London in 1999 to promote figurative painting and oppose conceptual art. This was mentioned in the United States media, but the first Stuckist presence in US was not until the following year, when former installation artist, Susan Constanse, founded a Pittsburgh chapter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regan Tamanui</span> Australian artist

Regan Tamanui is an artist based in Melbourne, Australia. In October 2000, he founded the Melbourne Stuckists, the fourth Stuckist of the original Stuckist groups and the first outside the United Kingdom. He has also painted prolifically as a street artist under the tag name HA-HA.

Naive John is a British artist and figurative painter. His work shows attention to detail with subjects that combine elements from popular culture alongside the mythic and mundane. He has also in the past been involved in the Stuckism art movement.

<i>Go West</i> (exhibition)

Go West is the title of the first exhibition by Stuckist artists in a commercial London West End gallery. It was staged in Spectrum London gallery in October 2006. The show attracted media interest for its location, for the use of a painting satirising Sir Nicholas Serota, Director of the Tate gallery, and for two paintings of a stripper by Charles Thomson based on his former wife, artist Stella Vine.

<i>Sir Nicholas Serota Makes an Acquisitions Decision</i> 2000 painting by Charles Thomson

Sir Nicholas Serota Makes an Acquisitions Decision is one of the paintings that was made as a part of the Stuckism art movement, and is recognized as a "signature piece" for the movement, It was painted by the Stuckism co-founder Charles Thomson in 2000, and has been exhibited in a number of shows since, as well as being featured on placards during Stuckist demonstrations against the Turner Prize.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuckism International Gallery</span>