Experience a Virtual Studio Visit, then sit for and receive a Personalised Artwork by renowned British artist Marc Quinn

The lot winner will be one of the first sitters for Quinn’s new series, titled Far but Near, Lockdown Irises. These new works are an evolution of Quinn's Iris Paintings, and are inspired by the current ‘lockdown’.

Developed from a digital photograph of the sitter’s eye, Far but Near, Lockdown Irises reflect the current era of social distance and isolation, in which we connect with one another over digital media and thus feel a paradoxical sense of being "far but near."

While Quinn would usually have a sitter visit the studio and meet him in person, in this case the sitting is virtual: the lot winner will be invited to an online studio visit and asked to send a smartphone photograph of their iris to the artist. Quinn will then alter the photograph using a particular pixelation technique, resulting in an image of the sitter's iris which appears in focus when viewed from a distance and abstract when close up.

The new series Far but Near, Lockdown Irises reflects the disassociated yet close connections that we feel to people and events at this time. As a portrait of the iris, the only internal organ that you can see from the outside, these works also celebrate our shared humanity and its ability to overcome adversity.

Artwork details:

Far but Near, Lockdown Iris

Marc Quinn 2020

Pigment print on 300gsm Somerset Photo paper

Unique artwork

100w x 100h cm

Marc Quinn is one of the leading artists of his generation. His sculptures, paintings and drawings explore the relationship between art and science; humans and nature; and the human body and the perception of beauty. Quinn came to prominence in 1991 with his sculpture Self (1991), and other critically-acclaimed works include Alison Lapper Pregnant (2005), exhibited on the Fourth Plinth of London’s Trafalgar Square; Breath (2012), a colossal replica of Alison Lapper Pregnant commissioned for the 2012 London Paralympics opening ceremony; and Self Conscious Gene (2019) a 3.5 metre bronze sculpture of ‘Zombie Boy’ Rick Genest, now on permanent display at the Science Museum, London. Quinn is passionate about humanitarian causes and recently established a UK-based charity called Human Love which supports international refugee aid organisations. Through Human Love, Quinn is currently developing Our Blood: a collaborative public sculpture made with over 10,000 refugees and non-refugees. Our Blood will premiere at New York Public Library in 2022, housed inside a pavilion designed by Sir Norman Foster.

This experience can be enjoyed by the winning bidder for a maximum of 60 minutes.

The successful bidder will need to share a postal address to receive the artwork, and to send a digital photograph to Marc Quinn to develop this artwork. Once the artwork is completed, Quinn’s studio will make it available for collection by the successful bidder’s courier.

Please note that this lot may be subject to VAT. Please refer to the Conditions of Sale for further information regarding VAT.