David Spiller, born in 1942 in Dartford and raised in Swanley, Kent, embarked on his artistic journey at a young age. His passion for art began to flourish at 15 when he enrolled in a graphic design course at Sidcup Art School. Later, he pursued a fine art painting course at Beckenham School of Art, where he received classical training in painting and drawing. It was during this time that he developed a lifelong fascination with various music genres, including rock‘n’roll, rock, blues, and movie soundtracks.
In 1962, Spiller secured a spot at the renowned Slade School of Art, where he was mentored by influential figures like Frank Auerbach and William Coldstream. His talent and dedication were recognized when he was honored with the Henry Tonks Prize for Drawing.
In the late 70s and 80s, Spiller's professional life led him to become a senior lecturer at Ravensbourne College of Art. However, it was a transformative visit to the Cologne Art Fair in Germany in 1985 that changed the course of his career. Witnessing the dynamic art scene in Cologne ignited a strong desire within him to pursue his own artistic path. In 1987, he made a bold move to New York, setting up his studio and showcasing his artwork at the Twinings Gallery on Broadway. The following year, he relocated to Berlin, where he held his first solo exhibition at the Zeitkunst Galerie during the Cologne art fair. These opportunities paved the way for regular exhibitions across Europe, with his work being displayed in various European art museums and gaining recognition in over 10 countries. Presently, he collaborates with the Belgian gallery, Guy Pieters, and has established a strong presence with exhibitions at the Beaux Arts Gallery on Cork Street in London and the Portland Gallery in Piccadilly. Additionally, his paintings are now being showcased at the Long-Sharp Gallery in Indianapolis.
Spiller's artistic style revolves around appropriating concepts from popular culture and his childhood memories. Infused with enthusiasm and vibrant energy, his artworks blend a myriad of influences and ideas into a single piece. Utilizing iconic images, he ingeniously recycles and recontextualizes symbols with hidden connotations from sources like Picasso, Dubuffet, Warhol, Disney, and graphic design. His focus on urban art, particularly graffiti and media, is evident as he incorporates diverse painterly techniques to create rich and complex surfaces. The marriage of hard-hitting immediacy reminiscent of Pop Art, bold colors, punchy texts, clean lines, expressionistic painting, and hard-edged abstraction results in striking and distinctive compositions. To further enrich his artwork, Spiller introduces informal freehand texts and drawings, including characters and motifs that echo in his mind. Moreover, he artfully weaves evocative lines from his favorite songs by artists like the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and The Pogues, which have deeply influenced him.
Love is a central theme in David Spiller's creations. Reflecting the sentiment conveyed by the Beatles' iconic song "All You Need is Love," his paintings become a captivating cornucopia of appropriated and remembered images. Drawing inspiration from American Pop Art, boyhood comics, TV cartoons, and art history, Spiller's art is an amalgamation of diverse influences. Through his unique approach, he ingeniously combines all these elements on canvas or print, resulting in truly original and emotionally evocative works of art. His paintings have found their way into prestigious public and private collections worldwide, leaving a lasting impact on art enthusiasts and admirers.
