The exhibition runs through Oct. 31.
Mark Cocksedge
Robbie Williams is leaning into new ventures. The British singer-songwriter has turned his hand to artwork with three imaginative pieces, now on display in a leading London art gallery.
Williams’ inspiration includes the expressive works of British painter David Hockney, the vibrant style of American multimedia artist Alex Israel and the abstract experiments of Picasso. Creating drawings, or “inklings,” as Williams refers to them, using an iPad and Posca pens, the “Rock DJ” hitmaker’s work focuses on personal reflections and observations of others.
In his youth, Williams read John Lennon’s “A Spaniard in the Works,” which stuck with him for decades. He has since been quietly been creating art for 20 years. “[Lennon’s] very simple, childlike drawings really appealed to me, they weren’t of the art world, and I suppose that planted the seed that maybe art was something I could also do,” he explained.
The “inklings” have been brought to life by 1882 Ltd., a ceramics company based in Stoke-on-Trent, England, bringing an extra-personal touch to the work — Stoke-on-Trent is also Williams’ home town.
“I’m from Stoke and we are the potteries and it’s what we are famous for. And it’s what has given us relevance on the map, in the UK and around the world,” he said. “It is ingrained in me — we are of clay,”
Williams and 1882 Ltd. collaborated on three pieces; two busts and one wall plaque. The busts — in both the “Jesus” and “The Pope” designs — stand at 51 cm x 37 cm, while the wall plaque measures 55 cm by 35 cm.
The “Angels” singer said that these designs represent a natural evolution from his early attempts to capture the human face. “They were just me on my way to figuring out what I could make if I was no longer what the world recognizes as talented” he commented. “When I make this sort of drawing, I simply go with a flow and then see what it looks like afterwards,”
Williams’ “Jesus” sculpture.
Mark Cocksedge
After 1882 Ltd. worked on the intricate coiling techniques of the clay busts, each piece took around five weeks to dry, and further weeks to complete multiple dryings. The hand-painted pieces use a mix of vibrant hues, ranging from neon yellow to cobalt blue to bubblegum pink, in turn reflecting his own bright and lively personality, which often shines through during interviews and on stage.
Each piece took weeks to make.
Mark Cocksedge
Williams first turned to art as a form of mental health therapy to quiet his “crowded mind,” and now creates on a daily basis. He acknowledges that, while it was certainly a creative risk, he is in a fortunate position to spend time focusing solely on his artwork. “It’s fortunate I’ve had space, time and the money to be able to just solely concentrate on this aspect of me that heals me, that makes me feel good,” he explained.
The risk paid off, as the exhibition isn’t his first. In 2024 work has been featured in two solo exhibitions, ‘Pride & Self-Prejudice’ at Moco Museum Amsterdam and ‘Confessions of a Crowded Mind’ at Moco Barcelona.
Robbie Williams’ “A Little Private View Of Things” is on display at Mint Gallery, London, now through Oct. 31.