The Playboy Collection by Simon Claridge

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“Andy Warhol is the primary influence in my career; he famously created a Playboy cover cementing the relationship between Playboy and Pop Art, and paving the way for artists like me.”

SIMON CLARIDGE

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UK based artist Simon Claridge has garnered international acclaim for his fine art interpretations of iconic figures on silkscreen, imbued with his now signature diamond dust finish. This collection sees Claridge continue his homage to bastions of popular culture through his collaboration with one of the most instantly recognisable brands in the world; Playboy.

This latest project, or its timing, could not be more poignant. Following Playboy’s diamond anniversary in 2013, it is entirely fitting that Claridge’s speciality medium of diamond dust should feature in a fine art collection dedicated to reimagining some of the magazine’s most striking cover images. The silkscreen on paper editions show Claridge’s ‘spot dusting’ technique, deployed to highlight the focal point of each image. Notably, this collection brings with it a first for Simon Claridge; his use of black diamond dust. As a material it is incredibly rare and hard to source, and was handmade to order for this project.

Playboy’s recent announcement to no longer feature nudity within the pages of Playboy magazine reinforces Claridge’s approach - his emphasis tends towards vintage styling and classic photographic technique. Claridge has embraced the glamour that Playboy exudes, and harnessed its enduring sensuality; enough to suggest, little enough to tease.

The result is a staggeringly insightful construal of iconic Playboy imagery. Claridge’s vision shines

forth from the work, bringing with it a unisex, universal appeal, in a glorious celebration of the female form and the years Playboy has devoted to honouring just that. Indeed, Playboy has facilitated a great deal of progressive change and action in its sixty year history. From publishing articles with radical activists such as Malcolm X, to featuring an African American model on the cover in 1971 when race relations were still somewhat unsettled, Playboy has never been confined by the parameters of social norms.

Whilst the Playboy collection serves to showcase femininity - a theme consistent throughout Claridge’s portfolio, which has encompassed Twiggy, Bardot, Marilyn to name but a few - we also see a contrast to that iconic figurative portraiture. In this body of work, his distinct 1960 and 1970s aesthetic resonates with pre-celebrity culture, a world before reality TV, when public figures held an air of mystery, all the more fascinating for being less attainable and beyond the reach of public access all areas. Having been granted access to the Playboy archives, which hold every cover ever printed in its history - over 700 in total - it took six months of research and review for Claridge to decide on his final six images. The selection speaks of his penchant for a 60s and 70s aesthetic, although the imagery undoubtedly has a timeless appeal. Indeed, a viewer looking upon November 1967 might well surmise that the cover could easily have been shot in either the 70s or as recently as this year, such is the ageless quality of the styling.

NOVEMBER 1967 Silkscreen on Paper with Diamond Dust of 75 | Framed Size 36” x 29” | Framed £995 Silkscreen on Canvas with Diamond Dust of 25 | Image Size 41” x 33” | Framed £2,995 Silkscreen on Paper with Diamond Dust presentation style shown here.

APRIL 1973 Silkscreen on Paper with Diamond Dust of 75 | Framed Size 36" x 29" | Framed £995 Silkscreen on Canvas with Diamond Dust of 25 | Image Size 41" x 33" | Framed £2,995 Silkscreen on Canvas with Diamond Dust presentation style shown here.

JULY 1973 Silkscreen on Paper with Diamond Dust of 75 | Framed Size 36” x 29” | Framed £995 Silkscreen on Canvas with Diamond Dust of 25 | Image Size 41” x 33” | Framed £2,995 Silkscreen on Paper with Diamond Dust presentation style shown here.

© 2016 Playboy Enterprises International, Inc. Playboy and the Rabbit Head Design are trademarks of Playboy Enterprises International, Inc. and used under license by Love Artist.

JANUARY 1974 Silkscreen on Paper with Diamond Dust of 75 | Framed Size 36” x 29” | Framed £995 Silkscreen on Canvas with Diamond Dust of 25 | Image Size 41” x 33” | Framed £2,995 Silkscreen on Canvas with Diamond Dust presentation style shown here.

MARCH 1975 Silkscreen on Paper with Diamond Dust of 75 | Framed Size 36” x 29” | Framed £995 Silkscreen on Canvas with Diamond Dust of 25 | Image Size 41” x 33” | Framed £2,995 Silkscreen on Paper with Diamond Dust presentation style shown here.

AUGUST 1982 Silkscreen on Paper with Diamond Dust of 75 | Framed Size 36” x 29” | Framed £995 Silkscreen on Canvas with Diamond Dust of 25 | Image Size 41” x 33” | Framed £2,995 Silkscreen on Canvas with Diamond Dust presentation style shown here.

PORTFOLIO COLLECTION Set of 6 Editions.

Silkscreen on Paper with Diamond Dust in Presentation Box | Unframed Image Size 26” x 20” £3,950 | Framed Size 36” x 29” £5,500 Silkscreen on Medium Canvas with Diamond Dust | Framed Size 41” x 33” £16,950 Silkscreen on Large Canvas with Diamond Dust | Framed Size 65” x 51” £45,000 Silkscreen on Paper with Diamond Dust presentation style shown here.

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“Marilyn Monroe, my all-time favourite female icon, was the first ever Playboy cover girl; I feel a connection to her through the elegant and feminine styling of the images I have chosen.”

SIMON CLARIDGE