Jamie is an English artist with a BFA in Experimental Studio Art from Hartford Art School, USA, class of 1991. Having crewed on a peace boat and campaigned for environmental groups in his youth, Jamie’s socio-political interests often influence his work. With a career-long commitment to experimentation he focuses largely on the body using traditional and novel materials, applying many unusual processes. Often exploring emotive subjects his work tends to court controversy.

Jamie began his career running his own forge, making abstract animal sculptures in steel. He subsequently moved into prop/model making, sculpting and special effects in the film industry. Jamie worked on films such as Blackhawk Down, Charlotte Gray, Around the World in 80 Days and Casino Royale. The influence of his work in the film industry are clearly seen in his sculpture practice. Materials and techniques which he adopted are put to good use in his assemblage-style work, combining for instance animal hides, taxidermy, human teeth with sculpted and cast body parts. His interest in the human body has led to some compelling works such as Actaeon, a man’s torso cast in deer hide and The Impossibility of Passion, the beginnings of his move into what he calls Neo-Surrealism. These works dynamically investigate both the beauty and the beast within us and have an almost hypnotic quality.

Having worked on grass roots environmental campaigns as well as on a peace boat in his youth, a strong socio-political current runs through many of his works. American Pie (a tryptich of films about the American diet) was way ahead of its time. Lucky Strike (comprising cigarettes and mousetraps) commented on tobacco addiction and Car-bon Miles (a road car converted to be pedal-powered) highlights alternative means of transport. Of course The Great Wall of Vagina is perhaps his magnum opus in this genre. This work attracted interest from around the world during its five years in the making and has propelled him onto the World’s stage. It has led to his description as “a revolutionary with a bucket of plaster”

His most famous work is The Great Wall of Vagina, an eight metre long wall sculpture created from plaster casts of 400 women’s genitals. Five years in the making and entirely self-funded, it typifies Jamie’s artistic determination. Appearing in numerous medical and educational texts it is championed for combating genital anxieties. It has become a hugely influential feminist artwork, which literally changes people’s lives. It has been displayed at the Triennale Museum in Milan in 2013, twice in London at the Mall Galleries in 2015 and the Hay Hill Gallery on Cork Street in 2012 and at the artist’s studio in Brighton in 2011.

Jamie is an artist who is hard to define. He admits to having had a largely sculptural oevre but his work crosses many disciplines and he shuns any particular label. “I blame my degree in Experimental Studio Art… I’m still experimenting”. This is true. The Great Wall of Vagina proves it, as does his latest body of work, Physical Photography. These are themed life-sized body portriats taken without a camera but with an adapted document scanner. If there is a Jamie signature it is his completely fresh approach to making art. No subject is taboo, no process or material is off limits. He embraces experiment as the driving force behind his creativity, often putting himself in extremis to fulfill his self-imposed briefs. When questioned, “I just make stuff” is his mantra. This mock humility belies a strong, some would say eccentric, character with a definite je ne sais quoi… He’s a maverick, an enfant terrible and what he makes is causing quite a stir.

With his work constantly in the media, Jamie has gained an international reputation a leading underground artist. Publically speaking on subjects such as art versus pornography and the importance of art as an engine of social change, he remains a campaigner and advocate for many causes. He exhibits frequently, has appeared in several art books and has private collectors around the world.

Jamie’s frequent appearances to discuss his art in the press and on TV have also done much to boost his profile at home and abroad. Standing on the brink of international success, he appears unaffected by all the attention. Working still from his studio in Brighton, England, he occasionally welcomes visits from the public, keen to glimpse what he is up to next. If you are lucky enought to visit on such a day then relish it. Art of England recently said of Jamie, “The world will be talking about Jamie McCartney for a long time to come.” We concur!

Positions Held:

Founder and chairman of the Sussex Artists Club

Chelsea Arts Club member

Education:

1991     Bachelor of Fine Art with highest honours, Hartford Art School, USA

1986     Art Foundation, London College of Printing

1995    HND Industrial Model Making, Barking College, London.

1985    Life drawing courses, Wimbledon College of Art, London

1984    BA Design and Technology, Loughborough University (unfinished)

Public and Commercial Commissions:

2013    1930’s BATHING BEAUTY – figurative sculpture for Cleethorpes Lido, UK

2012     CANCAN – oversize legs sculpture for Dukes at Komedia Cinema– Brighton UK

2008    BONZAI TREE – Madam Geisha Nightclub – Brighton UK

2007    ART CAR PARADES – Manchester and Blackpool UK

2007    AMORA – Six sculptures commissioned by a visitor attraction, London UK

Awards:

2014    Runner Up – ES international art competition

2012    Juror Award – Grand Prix de la Decouverte photographic competition

2010    Runner Up – Aesthetica Creative Works art competition

2009    Winner – BaHBA – Creative Industries Award

2008    Runner Up – ES international art competition

2007    Winner – Kyoto Award – Art Car Parade, Manchester

2007    Winner – Brighton Hilton – Brick in the Wall art competition

2007    Winner – 1st Prize – ES international art competition

Museum Exhibitions:

Dec 2012 – Mar 2013      TRIENNALE DI MILANO – design Museum, Milan, Italy

Recent Solo Exhibitions:

Feb 2015    GOLDSTONE GALLERY – Solo show “The Sum of Our Parts”, Hove UK

May 2012    HAY HILL GALLERY- Solo show “SKIN DEEP”, Cork St. London UK

Recent Exhibitions:

April 2018     GALERIE ROWLAND & KUTSCHERA – The London Five show, Berlin, Germany

Mar 2018     SOHOST LONDON – Group show of The London Five

Oct 2017     SOTHEBYS VIENNA – Charity Art Auction, Sothebys, Vienna

Sept 2017    BATTERSEA POWER STATION – Great Wall of Vagina mini exhibition

May 2016    HAY HILL GALLERY- Group show, Baker St. London UK

May 2016    ART UNDRESSED – group show, Miami, USA

Dec 2015     OXO TOWER WHARF –Freedom from Torture charity auction, London UK

July 2015    HENLEY FESTIVAL – London UK

Nov 2014    ART UNDRESSED – group show, Miami, USA

July 2014    GALLERY ZOZIMUS – group show, Dublin, Ireland.

Jun 2014    GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL –  Interactive installation with Guerilla Science.

Jun 2014    WEEKEND WOMEN’S SHOW – Great Wall of Vagina photo show Ontario CA

Mar 2014    MENIER GALLERY – “Time = Change” group show, London UK

Mar 2014    ESPACIO GALLERY – “Time = Change” group show, London UK

Feb 2014    WAREHOUSE GALLERY – “The Naked & The Nude” group show, Brighton UK

Jan 2014    BLACK’S –  “Salon Hystérique” group show, Soho, London UK

Oct 2013    HAY HILL GALLERY- Group show, Baker St. London UK

Sep 2013    ONCA GALLERY – ‘Down to the Bone’ group show, Brighton UK

Sep 2013    Macmillan DeLonghi Charity Art Auction, Royal College of Art, London

July 2013    HENLEY FESTIVAL – London UK

May 2013    CHELSEA ARTS CLUB – group show London UK

May 2013    JUBILEE LIBRARY – ‘Omnia Scroll’ group show, Brighton UK

Mar 2013    ART STUDIO VENICE – “Omnia Scroll” group show, Venice, Italy

Feb 2013     SIN CITY GALLERY – ‘12” of Sin’ group show, Las Vegas, USA

Feb 2013    THE DIRTY SHOW – group show, Detroit, USA

Oct 2012    FACTORY ART – Group show, Berlin, Germany

Aug 2012    HAY HILL GALLERY- Group show, Cork St. London UK

July 2012    HENLEY FESTIVAL – group s show, Hay Hill Gallery, London UK

Jun 2012    PZ GALLERY – Group photography show, Penzance UK

May 2012    CHELSEA ARTS CLUB – group photography show London UK

Mar 2012    CHELSEA ARTS CLUB – group show London UK

May 2011    BRIGHTON FESTIVAL FRINGE – Brighton UK

May 2011    ARTISTS OPEN HOUSES – Brighton, UK

Aug 2010    CHELSEA ARTS CLUB – group show London UK

May 2010    ARTISTS OPEN HOUSES – Brighton, UK

Dec 2009    CHELSEA ARTS CLUB – group show London UK

Dec 2009    MADAME GEISHA – group show Brighton UK

Oct 2009    Macmillan Cancer Charity Art Auction, London UK

May 2009    IMPURE ART GALERY – group show, Brighton UK

May 2009    BRIGHTON FESTIVAL FRINGE VISUAL ARTS – Brighton UK

May 2009    ARTISTS OPEN HOUSES – Brighton, UK

May 2009    SEIZE THE DAY – group show, Martlets Hospice, Brighton UK

Mar 2009    THE AFFORDABLE ART FAIR – Battersea, London

Jan 2009    PURE ARTE ART FAIR – Vigo, Spain

Dec 2008    STARS ON CANVAS – Victoria , London

Sept2008    MEN ONLY Everyman Charity Auction– Liberty London

Oct 2008    ART UNDRESSED – group show, Beate Uhse, Berlin, Germany

July 2008    THE BIRDS AND THE BEES – Chelsea Arts Club, London

May 2008    IMPURE ART GALLERY – group show, Brighton UK

Dec 2007    THE HEALING POWER OF ART – group show, Brighton UK

Dec 2007    DOUBLE TROUBLE – JAG Gallery, Brighton UK

Nov 2007    Macmillan DeLonghi Charity Art Auction, Arts Club Mayfair, London UK

July 2007    BODY OF WORK group show, Lewes UK

Public Lectures/Appearances:

Sep 2015    EASTERN PARTNERSHIP CULPTURE CONGRESS – Talk & Q&A, Lviv, Ukraine

Mar 2015     RED TENT REVIVAL – Women’s event – demos and a talk, Boulder USA

Jan 2015     TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN Arts Festival – Talk & Q&A about my work to date

Oct 2014    CENTURY CLUB London – Slide show & talk on ‘Erotic Art vs Pornography’

Jun 2014    GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL – Live photo scanning with Guerilla Science.

Jun 2014    WEEKEND WOMEN’S SHOW – Live photo scanning, Ontario CA

Feb 2014    WAREHOUSE GALLERY – Slide show & lecture on ‘Erotic Art vs Pornography’

Feb 2014     HOME HOUSE Member’s Club, London – Panel discussion on erotic art

Feb 2014     TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN Arts Festival – Talk & Q&A about my work to date

Oct 2013    TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN – The Phil debating society “Is Porn Art?”

May 2013    SUSSEX ARTISTS CLUB – Lecture on “The Nude in Art and Pornography”

July 2012    WELLCOME TRUST – Panel discussion at launch of Centrefold Project

May 2011    CATALYST CLUB – Public talk about my work ‘The Great Wall of Vagina’

Artworks Featured in TV and Film:

Jun 2014    French Cinema Release – ‘Tristesse Club’ featrued ‘4×4’ sculpture

May 2014    BBC 3 – ‘Porn – What’s the Harm’ featrued ‘57 Women’ sculpture

Nov 2013    Channel 4 – ‘The Cruel Cut’ FGM documentary featrued ’57 Women’

May 2011    Music video – ‘If Pacino was God’ featrued ‘The Impossibility of Passion’

Personal TV Appearances:

Sep 2015    Ukraine TV – Interview in English about the Mission of Culture During Crisis

Nov 2014    ARTE TV France & Germany – The New Feminists – interview

Nov 2014    BBC1 South East – Inside Out – featuring my work for Breast Cancer UK

July 2014    New Scientist – Web TV – feature on my installation at Glastonbury 2014

Jan 2014    Brilliant Britain – Community Channel – feature on Brighton’s best.

Apr 2013    Colombian TV – Mi Revelución Erótica – about The Great Wall of Vagina

Jan 2013    BBC Southeast Today News – update on my ‘Messages in Bottles’

Dec 2012    BBC3 Russell Howard’s Good News “Headliners” featured artist

Mar 2012    RSI Switzerland – A Fior Di Pelle – documentary about me and my work

Jun 2011    Bild TV Germany – Intime Kunst – about The Great Wall of Vagina

Apr 2010    Channel 5 – ‘Sex: How to do Everything’ – chat show interview

Sep 2009    BBC4 The Art of Dying with Dan Criuckshank – featured artist

Feb 2009    BBC Southeast Today News – feature on me and my Brighton studio

Dec 2008    BBC Southeast Today News – feature on my ‘Messages in Bottles’

Aug 2008    ITV Trinny and Susannah – artist central to the show filmed at my studio

Jun 2008    Channel 4 – ‘The Perfect Vagina’ creating The Great Wall of Vagina

Jan 2007    BBC Southeast Today News – feature on my ‘Car-bon Miles’ project

Oct 2000    BBC2 Fantasy Rooms surrealist room featured artist making Dali clock

Feb 1998    BBC1 Panorama – Dome! Featured artist on Millennium Dome models