Biography
British artist James Earley is one of the worlds leading Hyperrealism Artists.
James uses his work to raise awareness of issues such as homelessness, mental health and war. James wants to make the invisible visible, he wants his art to scream and demand attention.
James first came to prominence in 2013 when he was chosen to be a part of The Art Investors’ acclaimed 2013 “Seven Artists Exhibition”, this exhibition was held at London’s Strand Gallery and focused on 7 of the very best young Artists in the world. James’ display of his portrayal of famous musicians was much publicised.
His work took another route in 2015 with his powerful and emotional studies of homeless people, victims of war and religious martyrs. This work took him to another level in the art world as he was nominated by The BP award, The Royal Institue of Oil Painters and The Royal Institute Of Portrait Painters culminating in his work being displayed at the iconic and famous Mall Gallery in the heart of London. James was selected in 2019 to show his work at the prestigious London Biennale.
James has been described by the German Kunst Heute publication as well as The International Contemporary Art Curators as one of the most significant artists in the world today.
James Earley has thus emerged as one of the foremost pioneers of figurative and hyperrealism painting in Britain today, a fact all the more remarkable since James is a self taught artist.
In 2019 James was awarded first prize at The prestigious London Biennale, the Giotto International Prize and the Leonardo da Vinci International Prize. James was awarded the Venice International Art Prize in 2020 and has been chosen by The European Cultural Centre to exhibit his work at the Venice Biennale 2022.
Artist Statement
I have often been asked why I paint homeless people or people on an emotional knife edge. From a very early age I had always wanted to paint a homeless person, I do not know why, why would a young boy want to sketch a homeless person rather than a still life, a landscape or a portrait of someone that they know? I firmly believe there are some questions that you can not answer, sometimes your heart tells you something and you just have to follow it no matter where it takes you. This is how I feel. When I paint a still life or any other subject my heart is not there, there is no emotion yet when I paint a person that has the misfortune of constantly having to walk on a cliff edge and whose emotions are stretched to the limit my heart beats faster, my emotions fight with the image, the image is the subject and it is me. I have been told by many to change subject matters to those that would look nice on a persons wall. I do not want to. When someone purchases one of my paintings they are purchasing a bit of me, a canvas battleground of emotion. This is my calling.
I have met some of the nicest and genuine people on the streets, people who smile and laugh when their physical and emotional pain almost forbids them. If I can raise awareness of this issue through my art then I am a truly happy man as I have achieved what I was told to do.
James Earley
Exhibitions and Achievements
2013 Seven Artists Exhibition at the Strand Gallery London
2015 Nominated for the British Portrait award
2015 Nominated for the Royal Society of Oil Painters
2015 Nominated for the Royal Society of Portrait Painters
2016 Royal Society of British Artists Group Exhibition at the Mall Gallery London
2016 Nominated for the British Portrait Award
2016 Nominated for the Royal Society of Portrait Painters.
2017 Exhibited at Four Seasons Art Fair Amsterdam
2017 Exhibited at Equinox Madrid
2017 Featured on front cover of International Art Magazine
2018 Exhibited in a group exhibition called “Faces of Humanity 2018” Organised by G25N Gallery
2018 Featured Artist in “Artists tell their story” by Brenda Smoake.
2018 Featured on front cover of Artists on Art Magazine
2018 Featured in Prestigious Internationale Kunst Heute 2018
2018 Exhibited at the Other Art Fair Bristol
2018 Shortlisted for Art Gemini Prize
2018 Exhibited at the Menier Gallery London.
2018 Art Gemini Prize 2018 finalists London
2019 Exhibited at The Famous Old Truman Brewery as part of the Other Art Fair
2019 Shortlisted for British Portrait Award
2019 Exhibited at Gallery 101 London
2019 Exhibited at The London Biennale
2019 Winner first prize at the London Biennale
2019 Exhibited at The Other Art Fair London
2019 Shortlisted for The Sunny Art Prize
2019 Winner of The International Prize Giotto
2019 Solo exhibition at Southampton City Art Gallery
2019 Solo exhibition at The Sinclair Gallery
2019 Winner of The International Prize Leonardo da Vinci
2020 Shortlisted for The British Portrait Award
2020 Winner International Artist of The Year by the International Contemporary Art Magazine
2020 Awarded the Venice International Art Prize
2020 Group exhibition at The Rubine Red Gallery, Palm Springs, USA
2021 Awarded The International Dante Alighieri Award
2021 Group Exhibition Prelude London
2021 Winner of The Collector’s Vision International Art Award
2021 Group Exhibition The Royal Society Of British Artists at The Mall Gallery London
Publications
2017 Featured on front cover of International Art Magazine
2018 Featured Artist in “Artists Tell Their Story” by Brenda Smoake USA
2018 Featured on front cover of Artists on Art Magazine
2018 Featured in Prestigious Internationale Kunst Heute 2018
2019 Featured in Life Magazine
2019 Featured Artist in 100 best International artists in Contemporary Art Publication
2019 Featured in The International Hyperrealism Magazine
2020 Featured on front cover of Vanity Fair
2020 Featured interview in So-Edited Magazine