Eleven is delighted to announce the opening of Jonathan Yeo – Portraits at The Lowry in Manchester which runs from 15th March to 22nd June 2014.

Jonathan Yeo is one of Britain best portrait painters, especially well known for his paintings of performers, artists and politicians.

Many of his most famous subjects have been brought together in this new exhibition from the National Portrait Gallery. From Kevin Spacey, acting as Richard III; Damien Hirst, dressed incongruously in chemical protection suit; to Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Parkinson, Grayson Perry and Idris Elba. The exhibition includes additional paintings, drawings and preparatory materials especially for The Lowry.

Yeo is self-taught, taking up painting whilst recovering from Hodgkin’s disease in his early 20s. He became known as a contemporary portraitist in the late 1990s, exhibiting frequently at the National Portrait Gallery.

His best known work includes a world weary Tony Blair painted at the very end of his premiership, an iconic painting of Erin O’Connor and now familiar images of Prince Philip, and Dennis Hopper, some of which feature in this exhibition.

Yeo is also known for his collage treatments of famous faces, including George W Bush. Made entirely from pornographic magazines, it marked a new direction in his work which culminated in two exhibitions, ‘Blue Period’ (2008) and ‘Porn in the USA’ (2010).

His most recent body of work explores developments in cosmetic surgery and the lengths people are prepared to go in the pursuit of youth and beauty. Yeo's work is in the Royal Collection, the National Portrait Gallery and the House of Commons art collection.

The Lowry Gallery
Pier 8, Salford Quays
Manchester M50 3AZ United Kingdom
info@thelowry.com
www.thelowry.com

Opening hours
Sunday - Friday from 11am to 5pm
Saturday from 10am to 5pm

Related images

  1. Jonathan Yeo, Jude Law, 2013, Oil on canvas, 20 x 20 in / 51 x 51 cm
  2. Jonathan Yeo, Helena Bonham Carter, 2013, Oil on canvas, 40 x 40 in / 101.5cm x 101.5 cm
  3. Jonathan Yeo, Carter Idris Elba, 2013, Oil on canvas, 30 x 24 in / 76 x 61 cm