James Rielly United Kingdom, b. 1956

Overview
  • James Rielly, Holes in the sky, 2022. © Buysse Gallery. All rights reserved. Holes in the sky, 2022
  • James Rielly, Love is all around, 2024 © Buysse Gallery. All rights reserved. Love is all around, 2024
  • James Rielly, Make yourself more desirable, 2023 Make yourself more desirable, 2023
  • James Rielly, Full of ghosts, 2023 Full of ghosts, 2023
  • James Rielly, Living in positive times, 2024, Oil paint on linen., 209.9 x 189.9 cm. © Buysse Gallery. All rights reserved. Living in positive times, 2024
View works
British artist James Rielly, born in 1956 in Wrexham, Wales, creates compelling narratives through his paintings that intricately blend surreal elements with everyday scenarios. Educated at Gloucester College of Art and Design and Belfast College of Art, Rielly has garnered numerous accolades and participated in artist residencies globally. His work, recognized for its vibrant use of color and subtle incorporation of humor, explores themes of identity and human emotion, often challenging the viewer's perceptions with the strategic use of symbolic motifs like eyes.
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Works
Biography
James Rielly in the studio, 2024
James Rielly in the studio, 2024

James Rielly was born in 1956 in Wrexham, Wales. His artistic journey led him to study at the Gloucester College of Art and Design and the Belfast College of Art, where he honed his distinctive style. Over the years, Rielly has received multiple awards and grants, evidencing his significant impact on contemporary art. His career is marked by numerous solo exhibitions at prestigious institutions such as CAC Malaga and Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nantes, and he has actively contributed to major group shows, including the renowned "Sensation" exhibition sponsored by Saatchi.

Rielly's art delves into the subtleties of human experiences, using a palette that combines both vivid and pastel tones to depict scenes that straddle the line between the real and the surreal. His works are particularly noted for their emotional depth and the recurring motif of eyes, which serve as a window to the soul and a mirror of society. Rielly's approach invites viewers to explore beneath the surface of the artwork, engaging with themes of visibility, identity, and the human condition.

His contributions to the art world extend beyond his canvases, as his works are held in numerous esteemed collections globally, including the Tate Gallery and the Centre Pompidou. James Rielly continues to live and work between Paris and the south of France, influencing and inspiring a new generation of artists and collectors with his visionary approach to contemporary art.

 
Exhibitions
News
Bibliography
  • James Rielly, Holes in the sky, 2022. © Buysse Gallery. All rights reserved. Holes in the sky, 2022
  • James Rielly, Love is all around, 2024 © Buysse Gallery. All rights reserved. Love is all around, 2024
  • James Rielly, Make yourself more desirable, 2023 Make yourself more desirable, 2023
  • James Rielly, Full of ghosts, 2023 Full of ghosts, 2023
  • James Rielly, Living in positive times, 2024, Oil paint on linen., 209.9 x 189.9 cm. © Buysse Gallery. All rights reserved. Living in positive times, 2024
View works

James Rielly's works have been extensively documented and critiqued in various art publications and catalogs. Notable mentions include his participation in the "Sensation" exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts, documented by Thames and Hudson, and his influential solo exhibitions such as "Work, Rest and Play" at CAC Malaga. His artworks are also featured in prominent collections such as the Tate Gallery in London and the Centre Pompidou in Paris, underlining his status as a significant figure in the contemporary art scene.

 

James Rielly's significant contributions to contemporary art are reflected in the following notable publications and catalogs:

 

  • "Sensation: Young British Artists from the Saatchi Collection" - This influential catalog, published in conjunction with the exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1997, features Rielly among other prominent artists.
  • "James Rielly: Life of Rielly" - Authored by Marc Olivier Wahler, this publication accompanies a solo exhibition at Timothy Taylor Gallery, exploring Rielly's unique artistic narrative.
  • "Contre-Images" - Essays by Régis Durand and others, published for Rielly's exhibition at Carré d'Art in Nîmes, France, discuss his approach to disrupting visual norms.
  • "James Rielly" - A comprehensive monograph by Roy Exley, focusing on Rielly's distinct use of imagery and color, published in conjunction with his exhibitions at Distrito Cu4tro in Madrid.
  • "Outlook" - Curated by Christos Joachimides, this catalog from the Benaki Museum exhibition in Athens includes Rielly's works and discusses the broader implications of his art.
  • "Anthropography III: Contemporary Art and Anthropology" - This catalog from Frissiras Museum in Athens features Rielly's works in the context of cultural and anthropological analysis.
  • "James Rielly" - Accompanying his exhibition at Centro de Arte de Salamanca, this publication by Dan Fox and Maite Lorés critiques his thematic explorations.
  • "Painting People" - Charlotte Mullins' book includes a discussion on Rielly's approach to figurative painting, highlighting his influence on modern portraiture.
  • "Young British Art: The Saatchi Decade" - By Booth-Clibborn Editions, this comprehensive overview of the YBA movement features Rielly's early works and their cultural impact.
  • "Donation Florence et Daniel Guerlain - Artists' Drawings" - This catalog from Centre Pompidou, featuring Rielly's drawings, illustrates his contribution to contemporary art through detailed studies and sketches.