Ruth with cigarette 5

Julian Opie is a pop artist from the group yBa (Young British Artists), which spearheaded the revival of contemporary British art. Known for designing the album cover for the Britpop band Blur, Opie creates iconic pop art by simplifying images of people, landscapes, cities, and stills from short films into bold black outlines and vivid colors. Using techniques like drawing and computer processing, he translates these images into various media, including canvas, LED displays, LCD screens, and sculptures.

Ruth with cigarette 5 is a work that portrays Ruth, a real person who frequently appears in Julian Opie’s art, holding a cigarette with a confident and lively demeanor through a restrained yet expressive style. While Opie draws inspiration from actual individuals, he simplifies and abstracts their forms, removing specific and distinctive details. This approach highlights the anonymity of modern individuals, reflecting the universal and impersonal qualities of contemporary life.