William Selden
William Selden is an artist and photographer who studied at Middlesex University where he originally trained as a painter graduating in 1996. It is this background in painting that he has returned to for his first exhibition at New Art Projects, however it is through his work as a photographer, which he has continued since the 90s that also informs this new series of work.
In this recent work, he has combined all of his loves, photography, still life, portraits and painting to create a series of beguiling digital images. His process begins with photography but the images are then ‘digitally painted’ on his computer. The finished works have a soft and tender touch and a clever use of colour and space. The light effects in the still lives echo Seldens’ love of Chardin, and his flowers echo the compositions of Manet.
The finished works appear accessible and easy to like but have a carefully constructed sophistication that fuses traditional compositions with beautifully rendered digital painting to create a set of unique images.
Notes for editors:
William Selden started his career in front of the camera in the mid 1980s modelling for Comme Des Garçons, John Galliano, H&M, Paul Smith, Issey Miyake, Cerutti 1881, Yohji Yamamoto, UK Vogue and L’Uomo Vogue. It was after his art school degree that he changed roles and began a career as a fashion and portrait photographer shooting campaigns for Paul Smith, Uniqlo, Prada, Cadbury, Golden Wonder, Fred Perry and Puma and his work has appeared in Dazed and Confused, AnOther Magazine, AnOther Man, i-D, Guardian Weekend, Self Service Magazine, Sunday Times Style, V Magazine, The Face and Vogue Hommes Japan.
His portrait work includes: Steve Coogan, Daniel Craig, Rihanna, Hugh Grant, Boris Johnson, Jude Law, Anthony Minghella, Julia Davis, Ben Whishaw, Hot Chip, Andrew Garfield, Childish Gambino, Pharrell Williams, Peter Saville, Jack O’Connell, Paul Weller, Asa Butterfield, Gillian Wearing, Pulp and Spritualized.
image: William Selden, Canada Goose profile, 2019, Giclée photographic print on paper, 20 x 24 inches, 50.8 x 60.9 cms
