If You Ever Leave Me I'm Coming With You - Exhibition Book
Books
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On November 15th 2023, James McQueen's latest solo show, If You Ever Leave Me I'm Coming with You, opened to the public, displaying a new body of works using Penguin Books covers as a starting point for bold and satirical paintings.
The exhibition title takes its name from one of McQueen’s most personal quotes, which represents, in the artist’s words: ‘A love one can have which is so powerful it drives that enslaving desire to possess and protect another person. That daunting ‘first love’ experience - like you’ll die without them. It taps into our inability to accept failure or rejection but equally the desire to want something so intensely we can’t let it go.’
The illustrated exhibition book features over 80 McQueen’s artworks, with lots of additional detail photography and an introductory essay as an overview of the artist. Most of pieces featured in this one-of-a-kind book are new works created for the If You Ever Leave Me I'm Coming with You exhibition and have never been seen before, now available in the over 300 pages book. As well as McQueen’s standard canvas paintings, it also features his brand-new installation sets and works on paper.
James McQueen’s complex application of paint elevates his art beyond the mere imitation of a nostalgic object towards an art that is rich and expressive, exploring themes of Pop art and abstraction. Working under a pseudonym, he introduces an autobiographical dimension to the work with his trademark monkey, using this mischievous character as a kind of personal insignia.
The titles and sentiments are evocative, playful and sometimes cynical, depicted through a process of layering the canvas with thickly applied expressive brush strokes, characteristic of Abstract Expressionism. The anonymous artist also incorporates drip painting into a number of his canvases.
McQueen has produced the most experimental and varied painting of his entire oeuvre, having assimilated drop painting, re-imagined spots and begun experimenting with the diamond dust technique. Hugely popular with collectors, the artist continues to break new ground through complex and contemporary artworks, making his pieces powerful statements in any setting.
Find out more about the artist here or alternatively shop all his art here.
Delivery Info
For all orders of artwork, we advise delivery of up to four weeks from placing your order. Many of our pieces are handmade to order just for you here in the UK. Books and gift vouchers are delivered within 2-3 working days.
Please note that if multiple artworks are purchased within the same order, they may be delivered separately for efficient delivery.
We want you to love your artwork, so we offer a 14-day cooling-off period to view it in your home. If you’re not satisfied, we’ll collect it for free or you can return it to one of our galleries.
For orders outside of the UK, the same applies - please contact us and we can arrange collection of the artwork.
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Special Edition | 2024
The artist
James McQueen
You should never judge a book by its cover, and McQueen is keeping his firmly under wraps. The elusive artist, who operates under a name as fictitious as the titles he paints, has so far launched one collection of his book-themed Anthology works, three collections of his Non-Fiction works with Castle Fine Art and, the most recent Special Edition collection. They proved to be a page-turner with our collectors, and McQueen's limited edition captivating works are extraordinarily popular and in incredibly high demand - with the Non-Fiction collection selling out in just hours!
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Frequently Asked Questions
At checkout, you'll have the option to have your order delivered to your home or to collect it from one of our galleries across the UK. For more information on delivery, visit our delivery page here.
Yes, Castle Fine Art is based in the UK, but we ship internationally. All of our international orders are delivered via DHL.
To ensure a secure transit, every artwork is handled with utmost care. We take precautionary measures by using foam around the piece for added safety during transportation, and then the artwork(s) are packaged in double-walled, reinforced cardboard boxes that offer superior protection. All of this ensures that your artwork arrives safely.
Most artwork orders will need to be professionally mounted and framed before being dispatched, so delivery can take up to four weeks from the date you placed your order, but we do strive to deliver your order as soon as we can.
Books and gift cards are delivered within 2-3 working days. Please note, if multiple artworks are purchased within the same order, they may be delivered separately for efficient delivery.
The majority of our originals and limited editions are hand signed by the artist themselves. On some occasions where we have limited edition sculptures, this is hand written into the mould before production. If you're unsure, please contact us.
30 years of fantastic art
In 1995, we opened our first-ever gallery in Stratford-upon-Avon. With just one goal in mind - to make our art accessible to all - our fledgling company began to spread its roots.
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Every piece of art is mounted, glazed or framed by hand, with our bespoke framing service selected by our creative department.
Built to last
Our foundations are built on a passion for art, and many of our staff (and collectors!) have been with us from the very beginning.
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