Terrence Higgins Trust - 2024, Timed Auction

James Robert Morrison graduated from Central Saint Martins and worked in the gallery and museums sector for 17 years before returning to a regular art practice in London. He has been shortlisted for the Bridget Riley Fellowship (2023-24) and Derwent Art Prize (2022), selected for the RA Summer Exhibition (2021), won the Mervyn Metcalf Purchase Prize at the ING Discerning Eye Exhibition (2021) and was awarded a special commendation at the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize (2020). His work is held in the UK Government Art Collection, the Neal Baer Collection and private collections in the UK, USA and China.

The artist overheard a teenager describing a gay couple as 'never having more than a fag paper between them'. James explains: “In my teenage years, I didn't know anyone gay, there were no 'out and proud' public figures and school was an exclusively heteronormative environment due to Section 28. The only gay couples I had to look up to were to be found in my collection of gay porn magazines”. Inspired by this and the play on words, James has created a series of drawings portraying couples referenced from his personal collection of gay porn magazines on the unique and challenging medium: fag (cigarette) papers.

This original drawing is in a white hand-painted wood frame with non-reflect and UV protection glazing. Jerry and Alan was one of two drawings by James shortlisted for the first ever RBSA Drawing Prize in 2023.

Donated by James Robert Morrison

Website: www.jamesrobertmorrison.com
Instagram: james_robert_morrison