Who is Russell Young?

Russell Young is a British-American contemporary artist renowned for his large-scale screenprints exploring the complex themes of fame, cultural icons, and the American Dream.
Born in 1959 in Yorkshire, England, his unstable childhood deeply shaped his perspective on society, leading him to question the mechanisms behind image worship and celebrity culture.

What defines his artistic style?

In the early 2000s, Russell Young shifted his focus to fine art and developed a distinctive visual language: hand-pulled screenprints of legendary figures such as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, and Brigitte Bardot, often enhanced with diamond dust.
His works—both glamorous and haunting—examine the tension between dazzling fame and the cracks beneath the surface.
Cult series like Pig Portraits show how Young deconstructs celebrity myths to expose their fragility, while preserving a bold and striking aesthetic.

Where has his work been exhibited?

Russell Young’s art has been exhibited internationally, including at the Modern Art Museum in Shanghai and the Multimedia Art Museum in Moscow.
His pieces are held in prestigious private and public collections, such as the Getty Museum and even the White House.

What are his main influences?

Russell Young’s work is rooted in the legacy of American Pop Art. He draws inspiration from Andy Warhol, continuing his exploration of fame and visual consumption, but with a deeper emotional resonance.
Echoes of Richard Prince and Robert Rauschenberg can also be found in his practice, filtered through a contemporary lens blending nostalgia, decadence, and Hollywood allure.
His use of diamond dust is more than decorative—it acts as a visual filter that seduces the viewer while challenging the surface of the image itself.