Undoubtedly, one of the highlights of the 2003 Edinburgh International Festival was the unique opportunity to experience new paintings, sculpture and photographs by Julian Schnabel.
On view were a group of paintings made in his Montauk studio, customised surf-boards which reveal his fascination with the human struggle with the elements, and large colour and black and white polaroid photographs which show his family, friends and the artist himself, his studios and living environment.
Julian Schnabel was born in New York City in 1951. He attended the University of Houston from 1969 - 1973, receiving a BFA, and returned to New York to participate in the Whitney Museum's prestigious Independent Study Programme. In 1978 Schnabel travelled throughout Europe, with Barcelona and the architecture of Gaudi leaving a particularly vivid impression on him. His first exhibition took place at the Mary Boone Gallery, New York City in 1979. Since then Schnabel's work has been exhibited all over the world. His paintings, sculptures and works on paper have been the subject of major exhibitions at the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris and the Stadtische Kunsthalle, Dusseldorf.
Schnabel has embarked upon an equally successful career as a feature film director. In 1996 he wrote and directed 'Basquiat' about his late friend the artist Jean Michel Basquiat. In 2000, his second feature, 'Before Night Falls' received the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival. Schnabel lives with his wife and family in New York City, Montauk, USA and San Sebastian, Spain.
Presented in association with Gagosian Gallery.
Programme supported by the Scottish Arts Council.
Julian Schnabel
Julian Schnabel
All work courtesy of the artist and Gagosian Gallery.