Russell Young creates seductive, monumental portraits of cultural icons that probe both the allure of American celebrity mythology and its darker currents—crime, addiction, and mortality. Working primarily in silkscreen, he renders figures such as Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, and Kurt Cobain in stark, high-contrast palettes, often embedding diamond dust to intensify their luminous, almost tactile glamour. In parallel bodies of work, cascading shellac drips evoke something more visceral—suggestive of wounds, decay, and emotional rupture.Young’s practice has been exhibited internationally, with shows in New York, London, Paris, Shanghai, Vienna, and Los Angeles. His works are held in prominent collections including the Albertina Museum, the Cornell Art Museum, the Saatchi Collection, and the White House Collection. His collectors include figures such as Brad Pitt, Elizabeth Taylor, and Kanye West. Beyond painting, Young has directed music videos, while his more recent works frequently draw on the lush symbolism of Dutch Golden Age floral still lifes.
