Looking for something?

Tap outside or press close

InspirationArt & Culture

Emerging artist impressively merges 16th Century paintings with modern day celebs

An emerging art student hung out with the icons of the British art world when his reworked images of famous faces spent the night at Tate Britain. The work of Middlesex University’s Joe James Legget featured in the gallery’s Late at Tate Britain series, Celebrity – looking at the link between status and celebrity.

Written By:
Portrait of a woman with reddish hair wearing an elaborate gold-trimmed gown with puffed sleeves, a jewelled headdress and ornate gold collar against a dark background

The gallery asked for artwork merging modern day celebrities with paintings from its 16th Century British Art collection. Five of Joe’s images, featuring David Cameron, David Tennant, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jedward and Scarlet Johansson made the cut.

The second year BA Fine Art student used Photoshop to create the artworks. He remarked: "Even though it was for one night, it was great to have that experience and gave me a much needed confidence boost. Like most artists, I find it very hard to make something I am truly happy with, so to be chosen to be exhibited in such a prestigious museum was great confirmation of my work."

The celebrity exhibition focused on how the media idolise celebrity and fame. Artists blended modern day stars’ faces with portraits from the Gallery’s room 1540, the first of its ‘Walk Through British Art’. Often commissioned by the subjects who would want to show their best side, the images would be idealised just like airbrushing.

Man with long dark hair wearing black velvet doublet and holding a feathered helmet, merged with a 16th century portrait style against a brown background with rust-coloured drape
Bearded man wearing a black beret and burgundy fur-trimmed coat in a 16th-century style portrait with gold background, dated 1545
Man in 16th century portrait wearing elaborate white lace collar and red sash against dark background
Two figures wearing elaborate Elizabethan ruffs and holding Tudor-style portrait miniatures, a digital artwork merging 16th century portraiture with contemporary imagery
Share

Further Reading