378 - OPIE, JULIAN

OPIE, JULIAN 1958 London Title: Alan, Investment Banker. Date: 2000. Technique: Mounted on vinyl on a stretcher. Dimensions: 192 x 153. Notation: Signed on the reverse of the vinyl overlay, upper left: Julian Opie. This design is available in three sizes; our piece is the largest. Each piece is one of a kind. The work is listed on the artist’s official website. (www.julianopie.com) Provenance: - Galerie Bob van Orsouw, Zurich (label) - Corporate collection, North Rhine-Westphalia - Private collection, North Rhine-Westphalia (acquired from the previous owner in 2019) - Streamlined contours, bold blocks of color, and an extraordinary psychological presence characterize Opie’s distinctive visual language - Straddling the line between iconic portraiture and universal symbolism, his work reflects the urban high-achievers of the New Economy - Opie is one of the most sought-after British artists on the international scene; he is regularly featured in solo exhibitions worldwide, including one at the Ulsan Art Museum in South Korea in 2026 Since the 1980s, Julian Opie has been one of the most important artists on the contemporary British art scene. After studying at the renowned Goldsmiths College in London, he quickly gained international recognition. Opie revolutionized traditional portraiture by blending classical art history with elements of Japanese woodblock prints, cartoons, and modern computer graphics to create his unmistakable style. Using clear outlines and forms, as well as a limited color palette, he focuses on the essentials while deliberately exploring the boundaries of stylization. To this end, he utilizes the diverse expressive possibilities of new media and technologies in his paintings, sculptures, and installations. In this way, he creates a contemporary and universal visual and formal language. Opie has participated in documenta in Kassel (1987) and the Venice Biennale (1993, 2015, 2017). His works are represented in leading museums worldwide, such as the Tate Modern in London and the MoMA in New York. With the large-format portrait “Alan, Investment Banker” from 2000, Opie presents a masterpiece from his iconic creative phase around the turn of the millennium. The work captivates with its radical visual reduction: using just a few precise black contour lines and homogeneous areas of color, the artist captures the essence of the subject. Eyes and eyebrows are reduced to simple dots and lines, and the interplay of light and shadow is omitted. Nevertheless, the portrait possesses a striking psychological presence and is highly recognizable. The title “Alan, Investment Banker” directly refers to the subject’s identity and social status. Around the year 2000, Opie created an entire series of works depicting people from his immediate circle, as well as archetypal representatives of modern professional groups. “Alan” embodies the archetype of the urban high-flyer of the New Economy. The shirt collar suggests a minimalist business outfit that both characterizes and anonymizes the individual. Opie highlights a fascinating paradox here: the image oscillates between a personal portrait and a universal pictogram. The artist questions the visual language of our modern society, which is inundated with media. The work presented here is thus not only a portrait of an individual, but also a fascinating testament to an era and a prime example of Julian Opie’s unmistakable aesthetic. Estimated shipping costs for this lot: This lot is not suitable for parcel shipping. Transport is only available via a shipping company after consultation following the auction. Additional shipping insurance Shipping insurance Up to a total invoice amount of 25,000 euros: max. 41.65 euros Over a total invoice amount of 25,000 euros: 1.8 per thousand Shipping to the U.S. by individual arrangement after the auction. #Julian Opie #Figurative Painting #Post-Pop Art #Digital Art #Great Britain #Contemporary Art #2000s #Man #Painting #Contemporary Art. In accordance with §26 UrhG (German Copyright Act), VAN HAM is obligated to pay a statutory resale royalty on the sale proceeds of all original works of fine art and photography whose authors have not been deceased for 70 years prior to the end of the calendar year of the sale. The buyer shall contribute 1.5% of the hammer price toward this fee.