Conor Collins

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Conor Collins is a visual artist based in Manchester.[1]

Early life and education[edit]

Conor Collins is an alumnus of the Royal Northern College of Music[2] and the National Youth Theatre[3][4] of Great Britain.

Materials and techniques[edit]

One of Collins' most distinctive techniques is his use of non-traditional materials.[5] He often incorptorates objects and substances that carry significant symbolic weight, such as diamond dust, blood, and hate speech found on social media.[6][7][8]

Notable works[edit]

Tom Daley (2014)[edit]

In 2014, Collins gained international attention with his portrait of British Olympic diver Tom Daley created using homophobic tweets directed at Daley as he came out as gay.[9][10][8] It was later revealed that although Collins had not met Tom Daley, the day after he published his portrait, his parents in fact did.[11] In the same interview he signalled that he 'refused to give the painting to anyone for years' suggesting that he has now parted with the portrait.[11]

Alan Turing (2015)[edit]

Another significant work by Collins is his portrait of Alan Turing. The portrait was made using the blood of gay and bisexual medical professionals banned from donating under UK blood donation laws.[12][13][14] Collins is said to have used 26 different persons bloody to create the portrait[14] Although generally well received it has been suggested that the materials used in Collins' portrait hold more power than the painting itself.[15]

Cailyn (2015)[edit]

In 2015, Conor Collins created a striking portarit of Caitlyn Jenner, which quickly garnered widespread attention.[7] This piece was created using the hateful and transphobic tweets that Jenner received after publicy coming out as[16][17] .

The portrait is a recreation of Caitlyn's iconic Vanity Fair cover. The written words on the canvas come from an tweets sent to Caitlyn which Collins' is described to have been horrified by, which Collins then went on to paint.[18] The messages were described as jarring and horrifying: "I hope you die" and "If I was one of Caitlyn Jenner's kids I'd kill myself" are a sample of some of the tweets used to create the image.[19] Conor completed the portrait in a matter of hours, working from 5pm on Friday into the early hours of Saturday morning[20] despite his portraits typically taking two months to create.[21]

Trump (2016)[edit]

In 2016, Conor Collins created his first provocative portrait of then yet to be U.S. President Donald Trump using words and phrases from Trump's own controversial statements and tweets.[22][23]

The portrait of Trump was meticulously constructed from his most infamous and inflammatory quotes, addressing issues ranging from immigration and gender to international relations and race.[24][25][26] There are suggestions that Collins' used Trump's words to create his portrait as Trump’s fear-mongering language is the only thing he’s made of.[27]

Diana (2018)[edit]

In 2018, Conor Collins created a poignant portrait of Princess Diana made using diamond dust and HIV positive blood[28][29][30][31][32][33] and was exhibited as part of the Manchester Pride Celebrations in 2018.[34]

Fake News (2020)[edit]

Conors next portrait of Donald Trump received media attention[35] and sparked debates about free speech, the role of art in politics, and the ethics of using an individual's words in such a critical manner.[35] Through this work, Collins continued to demonstrate his commitment to addressing contemporary issues and challenging viewers to consider the deeper implications of public discourse.

Exhibitions[edit]

2016[edit]

The Celeste Art Prize at OXO Tower Wharf

The Emerald Art Prize[36] as one of the runners up for the prize

2017[edit]

Accessible Art Fair[5] at BOZAR

Shape Open at the Ecology Pavilion, Mile End Park, UK[37]

2018[edit]

Superbia at the Cornerhouse, Manchester, UK

2020[edit]

New Light Art Prize[38] at the Biscuit Factory[39]

2021[edit]

Visibility and Remembrance[40] at the University of South Florida

2024[edit]

Manchester Open[41][42] at HOME Manchester UK

Abuse[edit]

Collins' appears to have been the subject of abuse due to his artwork.[43] Collins attempted upon receiving written abuse decided to annotate and mark the letter humourously and post it online.[44] When asked how he felt receiving hate the artist responded "All I would say is don't let trolls drag you down to their level. Only a person unhappy in their own lives wants to spend their free time bringing others down. Being too busy being happy is the best revenge I'd say!"[43]

Response to Sainsbury's advert[edit]

In 2016, Conor Collins garnered significant attention for his critical response to a Sainsbury's store in Camden Road which took out an advert for "an ambitious artist" to "voluntarily refurbish" the facility.[45]

Collins, known for his vocal stance on the value of artistic labor, publicly criticized the advert on social media. Collins' attacked the supermarket's attempt to hire someone for free[46] and suggested the store deducted some money from its bosses' salaries to "pay someone to do work for you so that the concept of 'starving artist' wouldn't have to be a thing."[47]

A Sainsbury's spokeswoman apologised for the store's "error of judgment" and said it was in talks with the store.[48]

Personal life[edit]

Conor Collins is openly gay[49]and is an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights,[8] HIV awareness,[31] the National Youth Theatre[50] and general support for those in the arts.[51][52]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Hudson, David (18 July 2018). "Gay artist creates portrait of Princess Diana in HIV positive blood". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  2. ^ "RNCM Alumni: Visual Artist Conor Collins - Royal Northern College of Music". RNCM. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  3. ^ "National Youth Theatre 60th Anniversary Season Announced - National Youth Theatre". www.nyt.org.uk. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  4. ^ Thompson, Jessie (8 August 2016). "The National Youth Theatre at 60: Three playwrights discuss its impact". Evening Standard. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b "5 Artists Working with Innovative Materials at the Accessible Art Fair". 10 July 2017.
  6. ^ "This artist made Princess Diana's portrait using HIV+ve blood for an important reason". The Indian Express. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  7. ^ a b "British artist recreates Caitlyn Jenner's Vanity Fair cover using Twitter death threats". The Telegraph. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  8. ^ a b c "Conor Collins creates Tom Daley portrait from anti-gay tweets". The Independent. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  9. ^ White, Alan (22 April 2014). "Meet The Artist Who Turned Homophobic Tweets Sent To Tom Daley Into An Inspirational Picture". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  10. ^ "This Portrait of Olympic Diver Tom Daley Is Made from Homophobic Tweets He Got After He Came Out". Time. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Conor Collins - Art". Romeo. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  12. ^ Casey, Jane (17 November 2015). "The Amazing Reason This Artist Created An Alan Turing Portrait With The Blood of Gay Men". GCN. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  13. ^ Mulhall, James. "Manchester artist's portrait is made using gay men's blood". The Irish Post. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  14. ^ a b Rogan, Aaron. "Blood portrait makes case for gay donors". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  15. ^ Morel, Sarah (19 June 2016). "Drawing Blood". TN2 Magazine. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  16. ^ "British artist recreates Caitlyn Jenner's Vanity Fair cover using Twitter death threats". The Telegraph. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  17. ^ "This artist turned hundreds of death threats against Caitlyn Jenner into a masterpiece". www.aol.com. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  18. ^ "Artist Uses Caitlyn Jenner Twitter Death Threats to Re-create 'Vanity Fair' Cover Portrait". www.hollywoodreporter.com. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  19. ^ "Artist Turns Trolls' Hateful Tweets Into Beautiful Portrait of Caitlyn Jenner". Cosmopolitan. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  20. ^ Paget, Antonia (19 August 2015). "Salford artist creates portrait of Caitlyn Jenner using death threats and abuse posted by trolls". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  21. ^ "An artist turned Caitlyn Jenner hate-tweets into a portrait". Dazed. 20 August 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  22. ^ "Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, the unlikely muses". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  23. ^ Davis, Ben (7 November 2016). "This Is the Art That Mattered From the 2016 Presidential Election". Artnet News. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  24. ^ "Gay artist's portrait of Donald Trump created only by collage of offensive quotes". Star Observer. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  25. ^ Lind, Dara (28 January 2016). "A viral picture of Donald Trump, made out of the most offensive things Trump has said". Vox. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  26. ^ "This Artist Turned What He Thinks Are Donald Trump's Most Offensive Statements Into A Portrait". BuzzFeed News. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  27. ^ "Can Art Trump Trump?". Yahoo News. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  28. ^ "Blood Diamond Diana". QX Magazine. 25 July 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  29. ^ "This artist has created a portrait of Princess Diana using HIV-positive blood". PinkNews. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  30. ^ "Artist paints portrait of Princess Diana with HIV+ blood". Attitude.co.uk. 18 July 2018. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  31. ^ a b "Artist paints a portrait of Princess Diana in HIV-positive blood to make an important point". indy100. 18 July 2018. Archived from the original on 10 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  32. ^ "Conor Collins made late Princess Diana's portrait using HIV+ve blood for a special reason". CatchNews.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  33. ^ "This artist made Princess Diana's portrait using HIV+ve blood for an important reason". The Indian Express. 19 July 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  34. ^ Jackson, Daisy (14 August 2018). "Cinema, cabaret, yoga and voguing - what's on at the Superbia Weekend". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  35. ^ a b "This incredible portrait of Donald Trump is made from his most hateful quotes". indy100. 7 March 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  36. ^ "Rosso's Madame Moustache Wins 2016 Emerald Winter Pride Art Award". Artlyst. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  37. ^ "Shape Open 2017 - Power: The Politics of Disability - 19/01/2017 10:00:00". Shape Arts. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  38. ^ "Art galleries close (again) but New Light artworks are always online". newlight-art.org.uk. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  39. ^ "The Biscuit Factory: Conor Collins - The Biscuit Factory". www.thebiscuitfactory.com. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  40. ^ "Visibility and Remembrance Art Exhibit | Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | College of Arts & Sciences | University of South Florida". www.usf.edu. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  41. ^ "Manchester Open 2024". HOME. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  42. ^ https://bdproducinghub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Manchester-Open-2024-Gallery-Guide-2.pdf
  43. ^ a b White, Alan (7 October 2015). "A Gay Artist Quite Literally Schooled Someone Who Sent Him Hate Mail". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  44. ^ "This artist's response to some hate mail was spectacular". www.dailyedge.ie. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  45. ^ "Sainsbury's Camden store 'sorry' for free artist advert". BBC News. 13 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  46. ^ Grandhi, Kedar (14 May 2016). "Sainsbury's understands there are no free lunches". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  47. ^ Association, Press (13 May 2016). "Sainsbury's apologises for ad seeking artist to revamp canteen for free". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  48. ^ "Sainsbury's apologises over canteen artist 'volunteer advert'". 3 May 2016.
  49. ^ Boyle, Chris (7 September 2020). "The artist who turns hate into beauty". Medium. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  50. ^ "National Youth Theatre 60th Anniversary Season Announced". www.nyt.org.uk. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  51. ^ "Your Company Needs to Stop This Right NowWhen you ask people to work for you for "exposure" you expose yourself as a jerk". 20 May 2016.
  52. ^ "Sainsbury's Camden store 'sorry' for free artist advert". BBC News. 13 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2024.

External links[edit]

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