Julian Opie

JULIAN OPIE (London, 1958).
“Boston Statuettes,” 2021.
Set of eight laser-cut acrylic sculptures, each consisting of two interlocking pieces.
Unsigned. Edition undetermined.
Based on a series of figures drawn in Boston in 2019.
Presented in their original box with foam lining.
Provenance: the artist himself.
Measurements: 24 x 7 cm (each figure); 8 x 6 x 0.5 cm (each base); 31 x 41 x 4 cm (box).

Boston Statuettes is an expressive example of the figurative language developed by Julian Opie, characterized by the reduction of the human figure to its essential elements. The series, created in 2021 based on drawings made in Boston in 2019, features eight standing figures, captured in everyday poses and defined by black silhouettes, precise outlines, and white surfaces. The absence of facial features and the anatomical simplification evoke urban signage, graphic design, and digital aesthetics—fundamental references in his work. Laser-cut acrylic allows these two-dimensional images to be translated into the sculptural realm, establishing an evocative dialogue between drawing, object, and contemporary representations of urban life.

Julian Opie studied at Goldsmiths College in London, where he was a student of Michael Craig-Martin, and established himself during the 1980s as a leading figure in the new wave of British sculpture. His body of work encompasses painting, sculpture, printmaking, animation, and digital installations, exploring the possibilities of visual synthesis and the representation of movement. He has participated in major international exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale and Documenta in Kassel, and has created numerous public art installations. His work is part of prestigious collections such as the Tate, the British Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, as well as the MoMA in New York.