On the Road: Derek Boshier

Boshier’s clear references to pop culture are ever present in this show with depictions of his long-standing friend and biggest collector David Bowie appearing in three paintings: ‘David Bowie and Teresa Cornelys’, ‘David Bowie Twice’ and ‘David Bowie, Jack Kerouac, and David Bowie’. The pair first met in the late seventies and shortly after their introduction Boshier was to design the album artwork for Bowie’s Lodger. Within these paintings Boshier approaches the subject of how a single performer explores many identities through creative self-management, a performing art Bowie excelled at.

Shortly before David Bowie died, he is known to have written messages to his nearest, longstanding friends and collaborators. Included in these heartfelt goodbyes Boshier received praise and acknowledgement for his body of work and contribution to the pop art movement throughout the decades.

“I just had to write and tell you how much I love the book that has just been published. Your work really cascades over the decades and is utterly real and convincing. You really are a master. Cush!!”

– David Bowie

Boshier attended the Royal College of Art where he was a contemporary amongst notable artists involved in the pop art movement such as R.B  Kitaj, Allen Jones and David Hockney. His Image in Revolt exhibition at London’s Grabowski Gallery with Frank Bowling that Boshier introduced icons of American consumer culture with the incorporation of big brand logos. Taking a non-hierarchical approach to the use of popular images has been a long-running theme within Boshier’s work, making use of the Pepsi logo in place of the rising sun and other iconic images such as Kellogg’s cornflakes logo and iconic striped toothpaste image.

Other works in the exhibition include his Otherwise Engaged series (Pyramids and Guadeloupe Mountains), which provide a witty social commentary on the digitalization of everyday life and the lack of appreciation of one’s immediate surroundings. Two paintings; 'Cheetah Mathmaticus' and 'In Anticipation' are a continuation of Boshier’s long-term interest in aspects of duality, which also appears in the series Otherwise Engaged.

Although this exhibition focuses primarily on his paintings Boshier is known to explore other mediums as a sculptor, filmmaker, designer and artist.