NFTs

I’ve been making digital editions of my artwork since 2016 with relatively little success or fanfare but now in the age of NFTs digital editions have been transformed. So far I’ve released a few pieces on various platforms but today I released the one work I’ve been waiting to release, a version of my Ouroboros.

Ouroboros, unique NFT edition, HD MP4 video

This work can be collected as a unique NFT edition via Foundation. Foundation uses an auction system that triggers once a bid is made so happy bidding! I was also interviewed last week about NFTs and my experience so far with them for Slate.com. You can see the full article here.

New sculpture work - The Prisoner, 2021

Working once again with actor and model Sean Ford, this new work takes its main influence from Michelangelo’s Dying Slave. Originally conceived for the tomb of Julius II, in 1513 Michelangelo began creating a series of prigioni (prisoners) that were eventually eliminated from the project. The original statue depicts a beautiful youth, apparently in a deep (perhaps eternal?) sleep. This contemporary version echoes the Dying Slave‘s pose but puts him in full knowledge and control of his actions, trapping the viewer with the power and beauty of his body. Using the same process as Sebastian and Adlocutio (Sean Ford), the first iteration of this work will be cast in Carrara marble dust and is now available to pre-order here.

The Prisoner, 2021, Carrara marble, 8.5 x 3 x 3.75 in / 21.6 x 7.6 x 9.5 cm, edition of 15 (+1AP)

Interview and feature in Italian online magazine TOH!

Interview and feature in a second Italian online magazine this month! Here’s the link for the full interview with TOH! Magazine. Grazie mille!

Interview and feature in Italian magazine VESTITO

Interview in the latest issue of Italian magazine VESTITO about new and recent work (and discussing my “selfie” works so for), available to download now via this link. Grazie mille 🙏🏼

Press for LUSH

LUSH, currently on view in Mexico City by appointment, has been received really well! Here are three articles (in Spanish but Google translate does a pretty good job with them) from Reforma (Mexico’s biggest newspaper and my second appearance in their pages this year!), Bad Hombre, and Time Out Mexico.

ING Discerning Eye exhibition online now

Earlier in the year I was selected by one of my patron’s to be a part of the annual ING Discerning Eye exhibition. Originally intended to take place in London, the COVID-19 pandemic of course changed all that and it’s now an online presentation with over 60 artists. I’m showing three new works (shown below), one painting), one sculptural piece, and a work from my Polaroid Collages series, and all the works are for sale. Here’s the link for viewing/purchasing: www.ingdeexhibition.org/mervyn-metcalf

Untitled (Sponsored Post I), 2020, oil on canvas, 20 x 17 in / 50 x 43 cm

Adlocutio (relic) no.1, 2020, 24k gold-plated bronze, 1.9 x 2.5 x 2.7 in / 4.8 x 6.3 x 6.8 cm, edition of 12 (+1AP)

Polaroid Collage XXXV, 2020, archival pigment print, 20 x 20 in / 50 x 50 cm, edition of 3 (+1AP)

LUSH - installation views

Installation views from LUSH.

Lush - trio exhibition currently on view in Mexico City

Lush opened Saturday 7th at ALMANAQUE fotográfica in Mexico City and I was lucky enough to be in attendance as I’m currently in Mexico City. Details below. The exhibition will run until the end of 2020.

Corcuera, Fernández, Sandford: Lush

Mariana Corcuera, México Federico Fernández, Argentina Stuart Sandford, United Kingdom

ALMANAQUE fotográfica

Colima 101 PB. Colonia Roma. Mexico City

Inauguration SAT. NOV. 7th (by appointment) with an artists reception SUN. NOV. 8TH (invitations forthcoming). Special private viewings during: “muestra.art” from NOV. 13 to 15, 2020

ALMANAQUE is honoured to present Corcuera, Fernández, Sandford: Lush, a trio exhibition with works by Mariana Corcuera (Mexico), Federico Fernández (Argentina) and Stuart Sandford (United Kingdom).

Is our perception already affected by the domain of the pictures in our screens? Corcuera, Fernández and Sandford allow photography’s textures and materiality to crave in our dopamine to stage viewership as a reflection of three images courses to be tasted with different senses.

The use of expanded photographic practices and supports such as textile, projections and 3d photo- based sculpture in addition to polaroids collages and digital prints, shows that the formal conclusion of a captured image can redeem the virtual in order to become something real.

Chiffon and polymer, paper, metallic and cotton fibre are the image supports to depict flesh, food, flowers or bodies to inspire voluptuous ideas in our minds, in a post-disciplinary age of art, when images can be consciously deploy free gestures of the photographic, the painterly, and the sculptural.

The collection of images presented in the trio show: Corcuera, Fernández, Sandford: Lush, Almanaque’s first presential show after the lockdown, are the ingredients of a synesthetic artistic practice to season a momentous present when we savour to feel alive.

We will have the pleasure of the presence of Stuart Sandford who is traveling from the UK for this special occasion.

Curated by Almanaque’s founder, Arturo Delgado, the exhibition Corcuera, Fernández, Sandford: Lush will be inaugurated on SATURDAY NOV. 7h. from 12 to 16h.* Followed by special hours during the “www.muestra.art”, an event consisting on a series of special viewings of more than 20 artist’s studios, independent spaces and galleries in Mexico City from November 13th to 15th of 2020.

* With sanitary protocol and mandatory mask, by appointment at your preferred time writing to: info@almanaquefotografica.com

HUNG - 10 years later

10 years ago in London I curated an exhibition of my queer art heroes. Titled HUNG (a double entendre given that it took place at an exhibition and events space called The Horse Hospital), it ran October 15th - October 30th 2010. I didn’t see much queer work being exhibited in London then (and really still don’t) as opposed to in NY where I’d spent a coupe of years living. I wanted to bring that energy and in-your-face sexuality to London and was lucky enough to already be in touch with the likes of Bruce LaBruce and Walter Pfeiffer and Slava Mogutin, amongst others, who agreed to be a part of it. I also showed a couple of works there, including a neon sign inspired by a classic gay art/porn movie Bijou and a series of appropriated selfies. Thanks to everyone who supported the show all those years ago and of course to all the artists who were a part of it.

Taste Sean Ford pendant pics

A few pics from folk who’ve already purchased the sterling silver Taste pendant in collaboration with Sean Ford and Larkin Studio, thank you to those who have. I was asked by a small number of those who’ve purchased to make a variant without the patina and it looks great all shiny and new too. You can grab one right here.

DRECK Magazine interview

There’s an interview and a selection of my work featured in the new issue of DRECK Magazine which is available now. I’m featured alongside a number of my colleagues from the Boys! Boys! Boys! project discussing what the idea of SKIN means to each of us. Click the cover image below to purchase a copy.

EROS AND APOLLO: THE ART OF STUART SANDFORD

A short and sweet interview with Behind The Blinds Magazine about my practice done just as lockdown was taking hold. See the full interview online here.

Piecing It Together: Modern and Contemporary Collage - online exhibition

An Artsy exclusive exhibition with Childs Gallery online August 4th - September 12th 2020. Though the technique of collage has been around since the invention of paper, its use as a fine art medium came about during the 20th century and is closely associated with the advent of Modernism. Piecing It Together, available to view exclusively on Artsy, presents collaged works from the 20th and 21st centuries, spanning various artistic movements from Abstract Expressionism to Contemporary photography, and includes artists such as Henry Botkin, Werner Drewes, Ruth Eckstein, Don Joint, and Stuart Sandford.

Robert S. Neuman, American (1926-2015)
Pedazos del Mundo (The Little World), 1963
Mixed media and collage on paper, 21 1/2 x 25 1/2 inches

Stuart Sandford, British
Polaroid Collage XXXVI, 2020
Polaroid collage, 4 1/4 x 3 1/2 inches

Ruth Eckstein, American
(1916-2011)
Ariadne II, 1975
Frottage and collage, 12 x 12 inches

Adlocutio (Sean Ford), 2020, 8.5 inch edition in Carrara marble

It’s finally here! Due to the hellish nature of this year so far, this work has been delayed but I’m happy to say the marble studio I work with is now back up to full speed and the editions are ready. Yay! Thanks to everyone who has purchased so far and thank you for your patience in waiting for the delivery, I’m sure you’ll agree it was worth the wait.

Please find images below as well as a very short video of the work. More details and purchase here on my store: www.stuartsandford.com/shop/adlocutio-carrara-marble

Taste - pendant collaboration with Sean Ford and Larkin Studios

Proud to present a new collaboration between myself, Sean Ford, and Larkin Studios. Part of my Adlocutio (Sean Ford) series, this limited edition pendant is cast in sterling silver and treated to look aged and worn, mirroring the inspirations behind the Adlocutio works, and is signed by myself and Sean Ford and stamped by Larkin Studios. The pendant is available to preorder now via my online shop and will begin to ship the first week of August 2020.

1421 Laveta Terrace - online exhibition with CULTUREEDIT / Tom of Finland Store

It's my pleasure to announce a new online exhibition of my work with CULTUREEDIT / Tom of Finland store to celebrate the life and work of Tom of Finland who would have been 100 years old May 8th.

"STUART SANDFORD: 1421 Laveta Terrace

CULTUREEDIT / Tom of Finland Store is thrilled to announce an online exhibition titled 1421 Laveta Terrace, an intimate collection of photographs and moving image works by British artist Stuart Sandford.

The exhibition consists of Sandford’s Polaroid suite 1421 Laveta Terrace, snap shots of his personal experiences and atmosphere at Tom of Finland Foundation taken during his time as artist-in-residence there and serving as an homage to Tom, alongside a special collaboration of portraits with porn actor Brent Corrigan, as well as documentation of a bronze sculpture where visitors to Tom of Finland Foundation were asked to contribute their urine in the making of the work.

Building on an ongoing practice that began with investigating unbridled adolescent narcissism and moving through the self-reflexive nature of photography in the era of ‘the selfie', Facebook and Instagram, Sandford redeploys analog photographic processes to document his experiences, preserving them for posterity with an unlikely medium. Each of his photographs capture an instantaneous moment – some ordinary, others erotic. Ultimately, Sandford creates a sequential portrait of a highly particular community, blurring the lines between artist and participant 

Sandford’s photographs from 1421 Laveta Terrace are now exclusively available as limited edition prints via CULTUREEDIT / Tom of Finland Store. This exhibition coincides with Sandford’s release of a new limited edition portfolio of the same name in a bespoke leather case to mark Tom’s centenary and is supported by The Icon LA. A portion of sales goes directly to ToFF, a none profit 501 (c)(3) educational archive."

The exhibition is online now and can be viewed in full until the end of June via this link. Recent online exhibitions by CULTUREEDIT / Tom of Finland Store include Slava Mogutin and Bruce LaBruce.

Brent VI, 2014

Self-portrait with Leo #1, 2014

Sebastian (relic) no.1, 2019-2020

Tom of Finland's 100th x attitude magazine

Honoured to be amongst an amazing list of artists in this special attitude magazine tribute to the life and work of Tom of Finland who would have been 100 this year. Available now via their website in both print and digital editions via this link.

Boys! Boys! Boys! - new book published by teNeues / MENDO

I'm one of over 50 artists featured in a new book to be released at the end of May 2020. BOYS! BOYS! BOYS! – edited by Ghislain Pascal, co-founder of The Little Black Gallery – presents a contemporary collection of queer and gay photography, full of variety, power and intensity. Featuring images from queer and gay photographers from more than 20 countries in a stunning celebration of queer and fine art. All royalties to the Elton John AIDS Foundation. More information about the book and pre-order here.

24 x 19.5 cm 
224 pages, Hardcover
ca. 130 color and b/w photographs
Text in English 
ISBN: 978-3-96171-252-6

1421 Laveta Terrace - Polaroid limited edition for Tom of Finland's 100th birthday

To celebrate the centenary of Tom of Finland, who would be 100 years old May 8th 2020, I’m thrilled to present a new limited edition (of 25) portfolio of 12 photographic works from my Polaroid suite titled 1421 Laveta Terrace, executed in 2014 whilst artist-in-residence at the Tom of Finland Foundation in Los Angeles, CA. The Polaroid prints are presented in a handmade blind embossed Italian black leather pouch, with texts by Durk Dehner (president and co-founder ToFF) and artist Simon Haas. 20% of profits from sales of the portfolio will de donated to ToFF, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational archive.

1421 Laveta Terrace: Polaroids by Stuart Sandford
2020
12 x archival inkjet prints on Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper presented in a black leather pouch
Case: 12 x 8.5 x 2.5 in / 30.4 x 21.5 x 6.3 cm
Prints: 8 x 10 in / 20.3 x 24.4 cm
Edition of 25 (+3APs)
Individual prints are signed, dated, and numbered

Available to pre-order now here.

Final version of my Ouroboros sculpture, executed in Carrara marble

I began working on my Ouroboros sculpture at the beginning of 2018 and, besides a number of unique editions and artists proofs, the final version was always intended to be an edition executed in Carrara marble. I visited Carrara itself to source the marble in spring 2018 and I’m thrilled to say the piece is now completed. The final work is 13 x 11 x 10 in / 33 x 27 x 25.4 cm and is an edition of 6 with one artist proof. It can be purchased online here.