Julian Opie was born in 1958 in London and graduated in 1983 from Goldsmiths School of Art, where he was taught by Michael Craig-Martin. He lives and works in London.

Opie has exhibited widely in the UK and internationally, with major museum exhibitions including shows at Kunstverein in Cologne; Hayward Gallery and ICA in London; Lehnbachhaus in Munich; K21 in Dusseldorf; MAK in Vienna; Mito Tower in Japan; CAC in Malaga and IVAM in Valencia; MoCAK in Krakow; Tidehalle in Helsinki and Fosun Foundation in Shanghai; Suwon IPark Museum of Art in Korea, as well as the Delhi Triennial, Venice Biennial and Documenta.

He is represented by 12 galleries worldwide and has presented many public projects in cities around the world, notably in the Dentsu Building in Tokyo 2002; City Hall Park in New York 2004, Mori Building, Omotesando Hill in Japan 2006; River Vltava in Prague 2007; Phoenix Art Museum USA 2007; Dublin City Gallery in Ireland 2008; Seoul Square in South Korea 2009; Regent’s Place in London 2011; Calgary, Canada; The Lindo Wing, St Mary’s Hospital, London; and more recently permanent installations at SMETS in Belgium, PKZ in Zurich, Arendt and Medernach in Luxembourg, Taipei, Taiwan and Tower 535, Causeway Bay in Hong Kong.

Opie’s works can be found in many public art collections, including Tate, British Museum, Victoria & Albert, Arts Council, British Council and National Portrait Gallery in London, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, ICA in Boston USA, Essl Collection in Vienna, IVAM in Spain, The Israel Museum in Jerusalem and Takamatsu City Museum of Art in Japan.

Julian Opie, born in London in 1958, is one of Britain’s most distinctive contemporary artists, celebrated for his bold, pared-back visual language that reduces the human figure and everyday scenes to their most essential lines and forms. After graduating from Goldsmiths School of Art in 1983, where he studied under Michael Craig-Martin, Opie quickly developed a style that merges minimalism, pop sensibilities, and digital aesthetics. His work spans painting, sculpture, LED installations, and large-scale public commissions, making him a defining figure in the evolution of contemporary figurative and graphic art. Opie has exhibited widely across the globe, with major solo exhibitions at institutions such as the Hayward Gallery in London, Kunstverein in Cologne, and K21 in Düsseldorf, as well as presentations at the Delhi Triennial, the Venice Biennale, and Documenta. His public artworks appear in cities worldwide, from Tokyo and New York to Seoul, Prague, and Hong Kong. Today, his works are held in prominent museum collections including Tate, the British Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum, MoMA, and the National Portrait Gallery, demonstrating the international reach and enduring appeal of his practice.

## About Julian Opie

Julian Opie emerged in the 1980s as part of a generation redefining how audiences engage with representation. His early works incorporated sculptural forms, industrial materials, and painted surfaces, gradually leading to the highly recognisable style he is known for today: black outlines, simplified shapes, and flat planes of colour that distil figures and landscapes into universally readable icons.

Opie’s practice is rooted in the observation of everyday life - walkers on city streets, drivers on motorways, swimmers, couples, and passersby. His interest lies in capturing motion, identity, and the rhythms of contemporary life through a visual language that feels immediate yet thoughtfully refined. From his London studio, he continues to develop works that straddle sculpture, technology, and drawing, maintaining a position as a leading figure in contemporary British art.


Julian Opie

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Black Headed Gull from Small Birds