READINGS FROM THE BAROMETER OF LIFE
VIEW THE WORKS HERE
James Straffon is an artist and designer.
All artwork, text and images © James Straffon 2021.
FILM
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WORKS
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OVERVIEW
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MODUS
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Let's Stay Togther [The Mandarin] - a street art commission for Tottenham, London. |
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Don't Be Koi - The tao of an ecosystem - where the flow of yang (light) is countered by yin (dark), the harmony of the natural world is threatened - as it chokes on dumped plastic and industrial toxins. |
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URBAN FAUNA - a limited edition print series of endangered animals, placed on London walls. |
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A Rhino in The Herb Garden - An ecology project in association with North Harringay Primary School, London. |
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DECONSTRUCTED REGENERATION - a commission project with St Modwen, using abstract building blocks, cut from the negative spaces. |
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Pantera pardus. - A big cat, raising awareness for the plight of all endangered species across the planet. |
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Pride and the Peacock. - The national bird of India introduces a bold splash of colour to an urban side street in Tottenham. |
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When The Fox met The Rooster. And Other Stories. - A special commission in partnership with The British Embassy, Luxembourg, celebrating the Tour de France. |
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HARK - An urban art campaign commission for an east coast clothing boutique. |
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Coastal Chic - a special commission for a boutique store in Southwold, Suffolk. |
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An Objective Abstract - a special interior installation commissioned by Architecture and Design practice Coppin Dockray, invoking the work Kazimir Malevich.
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sKATE - Appropriating Peter Lindbergh’s iconic Kate Moss photograph within an urban street art context. |
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54 - a skate deck portrait series commemorating New York's iconic Studio 54 nightclub. |
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Keith. - A portrait of a Rolling Stone. |
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COMMISSIONS - well-researched, contextually specific artistic solutions, for a broad array of clients. For enquiries click HERE |
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Covfefe - A diptych exploring the socio-political unrest of a corrupt POTUS. |
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Oh Yeah? Wham! - a set of unique spray paint artworks, as part of the Coastal Chic commission.
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LET US SPRAY - A print series to accompany HARK - the Angels of Southwold project. |
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MITOLOGIA ITALIANA - An exploration of the Italian cultural landscape, from 1909 to 1960; a work of fiction. |
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FABER - A commission featuring the 1909 Tour de France victor Francois Faber. |
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People Have The Power - a portrait of singer-songwriter, poet, and visual artist Patti Smith fixed via an urban street culture context. |
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Through the Palace Gates. - A short film set in a north London urban allotment, on a summer’s evening. |
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Design and Illustration - Graphic design and illustration work samples, spanning both print and digital media, for a wide cross-section of clients. |
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Photography and film - engaging an artist's eye for both still and moving imagery; visual exploits in both analogue and digital formats. |
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Urban and Street Art - a variety of projects on walls, including specially commissioned installation pieces. |
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36 VIEWS OF PENTIRE - A contemporary reappropriation of the iconic Under the Wave off Kanagawa, by Hokusai. |
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The Kirkgate Triptych - A bold composition incorporating a variety of historical visual reference points sourced from around Kirkgate Market, Leeds. |
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Verses On A Butterfly - A modern diptych, based on the poem by Joseph Warton - Verses On A Butterfly (1806). |
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LE TOUR - a broad, and complete monogram; a major solo exhibition on the Tour de France, with an accompanying book published by Rapha. |
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LE TOUR Book - to accompany the Tour de France London exhibition, this hardback book was published by Rapha Racing, with a forward by British cyclist David Millar. Available to buy HERE. |
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100e - an allegorical monograph commemorating 100 editions of the Tour de France.Using Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost as a thematic schema, this series traces the evolution of universal ideas. |
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Carbon, Sulphur and Paint - presented through one man's pursuit of the greatest race in the world - the Tour de France, these works celebrate the cinematic sporting vista, and its heros. |
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FAB66 - created as a fifty-year celebration of iconic cultural figures from 1966, includes the then fifty-year anniversary of VOGUE magazine. |
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English National Opera - three production campaigns for the UK's largest contemporary opera company. |
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Citius. Altius. Fortius - in celebration of the Summer Olympics held in London, 2012, these works revisit the great and good of past medal winners. |
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LUMO Series - an exploration of wearable technology through the medium of light painting. |
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Logitech UE BOOM - Promoting the award winning UE BOOM bluetooth speakers, through commissioned customise speakers, and two Foffa bike frames. Live custom artworks created during a London launch event. |
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Chroma and the Defining Moment - The ‘Chroma’ collection celebrates iconic moments from the world of sport, with Straffon collaborating with legendary sports photographer Gerry Cranham. |
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Paris Match - This series of artworks exposes the polemic relationship between fantasy and reality. Here Paris Match presents a two-fold fabrication - with the glossy facade of the cinematic, overlaying the inner reality of the everyday. |
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Pigment to Pixel - an exploration of digital process - application of traditional painting and drawing methods within a modern context. |
Date | Details |
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2020 > | Readings from The Barometer of Life. A contemporary tapestry, raising awareness for endangered species, climate change and the sixth mass extinction. |
2021 | Don't be Koi A print depicting the unbalanced tao of global water through dumped plastic and toxins. | 2020 | Let's Stay Togther [The Mandarin] A street art commission for Tottenham, London. |
2020 | URBAN FAUNA. A limited edition print series of endangered animal artworks placed in London. |
2020 | Banksy Most Wanted. Interviewed for inclusion in the Canal + documentary movie. |
2020 | The Pheasant Plucker. A special commission for a residence in Maidensgrove, England. |
2019 | Keith Haring: New Wave. A group show featuring Banksy, Shepard Fairey, Blek le Rat and Sir Peter Blake. |
2019 | Pantera pardus. A big cat, raising awareness for the plight of all endangered species across the planet. |
2019 | Keith. A portrait of a Rolling Stone. |
2019 | 54. A skate deck portrait series commemorating New York's iconic Studio 54 nightclub. |
2019 | Pride and the Peacock. The national bird of India introduces a splash of colour to an urban side street. |
2019 | Coastal Chic A special commission for a boutique store in Southwold, Suffolk. |
2019 | Oh Yeah? Wham! A set of unique spray paint artworks, as part of the Coastal Chic commission. |
2019 | People Have The Power. A portrait of musician, artist & poet Patti Smith fixed via an urban street culture context. |
2019 | DECONSTRUCTED REGENERATION. A commission project with St Modwen. |
2019 | Ulysses. A commission piece featuring the tropical Ulysses butterfly. |
2018 | HARK An urban art campaign commission for an east coast clothing boutique. |
2018 | LET US SPRAY A special print series to accompany HARK - the Angels of Southwold project. |
2018 | FABER A special commission featuring the 1909 Tour de France victor Francois Faber. |
2018 | sKATE Appropriating Peter Lindbergh’s iconic Kate Moss photograph within an urban street art context. |
2018 | Through the Palace Gates. A short film set in a north London urban allotment, on a summer’s evening. |
2018 | A Rhino in The Herb Garden. An ecology project in association with North Harringay Primary School, London. |
2018 | 36 VIEWS OF PENTIRE. Commission via RedHouse Originals. |
2018 | MITOLOGIA ITALIANA. An exploration of the Italian cultural landscape, from 1909 to 1960; a work of fiction. |
2017 | When The Fox met The Duchess. A special commission unveiled by the Duchess of Cambridge, in Luxembourg. |
2017 | When The Fox met The Rooster And Other Stories. In Association with The British Embassy Luxembourg. |
2017 | Mark Cavendish for Qhubeka A special portrait created for the Bicycles Change Lives Campaign. |
2017 | Tom Simpson Memorial artwork An artwork laid at the summit of Mont Ventoux by Joanne Simpson |
2017 | The Kirkgate Triptych. Commission via RedHouse Originals. |
2017 | Verses On A Butterfly. Commission via RedHouse Originals. |
2016 | Curator/Lead artist Bag of Tricks Exhibition. Turnpike Art Group. The Green Rooms. Station Road, London N22 |
2016 | Exhibition - Spirit of 66. Redhouse Originals Gallery |
2016 | An Objective Abstract - a special commission by Coppin Dockray Architects |
2015 | Exhibition - Chroma. Redhouse Originals Gallery |
2015 | Upfest. Street Art Festival, Bristol. ![]() |
2015 | Curator Monarchy Exhibition. Turnpike Art Group. The Alex. Park Road, London N8 |
2014-2015 | Campaign artist - English National Opera [Marriage of Figaro, Benvenuto Cellini, The Mastersingers of Nuremberg] |
2014 | Live painting - Logitech UE Boom launch event, London |
2014 | Join Velorution as freelance Art Director and writer - Velorution magazine |
2014 | Exhibition - Velocity. Velorution, Great Portland St, London |
2014 | Exhibition - Carbon, Sulphur & Paint. Redhouse Originals Gallery |
2013 | Exhibition - Paris Match. Showcase Gallery, Clerkenwell, London |
2013 | 100e Exhibition. Snap Galleries. Piccadilly Arcade, London |
2012 | LE TOUR Book published by Rapha Racing, London |
2012 | LE TOUR Exhibition. Snap Galleries. Piccadilly Arcade, London |
2012 | Launch Turnpike Art Group, London |
2011 | Exhibition - Foyles Bookshop, Charing Cross Road, London |
2011 | Exhibition - Pauls Smith Store, Floral St, London |
2011 | Exhibition - Gran Corsa. Frameless Gallery, Clerkenwell Green, London |
2010 | Solo Exhibition - Frameless Gallery, Clerkenwell Green, London |
2010 | Condor Collection. Exhibited with Condor Cycles, The Bike Show, Earls Court, London |
2010 | Exhibition - at Craft Central, Clerkenwell, in conjunction with London Design Festival |
2010 | Exhibition - Paul Smith Globe Store, Terminal 5, Heathrow Airport, London |
2006 - | Freelance graphic designer, photographer, copywriter |
2000-2006 | Senior Designer, WPB Creative, Clere St, Shoreditch, London |
1999-2000 | In-house designer, EMI Classics, London |
1993-1999 | Senior Designer, Kee Scott Associates |
1990-1993 | In-house designer, The Royal Opera House, Floral Street, London |
1986-1990 | BA Hons Graphic Design, Middlesex Polytechnic, London |
1985-1986 | Art & Design Foundation course, Exeter College of Art & Design, Devon. |
1977-1984 | Barking Abbey Comprehensive. 2 A levels, 8 O levels |