A World in Denim
Born Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK 1984
Lives and works in Poplar, East London
At first glance, many believe that Ian Berry’s work are blue toned photographs or indigo coloured oil paintings. This is not only when viewed online or in print, when much of the depth and detail is lost, but even up close. Even at touching distance, many viewers don’t realise that they are looking at many layers, and shades, of denim jeans.
But of course it is testament to his work that it is not all about it being just about it being art in old jeans that makes it special. It is simply his medium for seeing the world, his paint, and what a material to use in this modern world; with all its symbols and dualities, as well as being such a common item of clothing that unites many around the globe.
Photo Debbie Bragg
To see them up close, you become aware of the depth and texture and see how each small piece of denim has been considered and crafted out of jeans with washes, and fades, which help create that painterly tone.
To create a shiny metallic surface or a polished bar top out of denim, it is staggering to see in any painting never mind textile art. He creates melancholic urban scenes, often depicting a lonely or less glamorous side of city living. He says denim is now such an urban fabric, after having such rural origins. What better way to capture everyday urban life.
It is hard to believe that this all started by one simple observation. Noticing a pile of old jeans and noticing the contrasting shades of blue. Some scissors and glue later he soon became one of the most talked about young artists. While he acknowledges that it started out as an experiment, while working with denim he started to realise his own connection with jeans – and especially other people’s. A material that we feel so comfortable with. He had found his way to communicate and then soon became written about as a leading top 30 artist under 30 in the world and a Rivet 50 winner, making him a top 50 influential person in denim in the world 2019, and WeAR Magazine consistently naming him on the Top 100 list, but don’t call it denim art.
Berry, who is originally from the North of England provincial town of Huddersfield, that once had a booming textile industry found much success. He has caught many eyes and while the works are painstaking to make he had been able to take a few commissioned portraits; Debbie Harry, Jennifer Saunders, Giorgio Armani and Lapo Elkann and Brazilian model Giselle, to name a few. His most well known though, was one made of another Brazilian, Ayrton Senna, using his family's jeans and in support of the institute in his name. In 2021 he unveiled a portrait commission for the Italian city of Genoa of Garibaldi.
In 2022 he completed the portraits of three prominent Chilean Artists Jorge González, Ana Tijoux and Roberto Márquez of Illapu as well as being commissioned to make the portrait of Levi Strauss for the iconic Denim innovators museum in his hometown at the Levi Strauss Museum, Buttenheim, Germany. In 2023 he was chosen to help commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the 501 jean with giant works shown in Paris, Milan and Madrid.
His work has been seen in many countries, giving a chance for people to see the work in person. With a number of sell-out solo shows, he has also shown across Europe and the States. It has been written about in major media in all corners of the globe.
During Covid he saw successful Exhibition tour at the Museum Rijswijk in The Netherlands, Material World at Textil Museet in Sweden, the National Textile Museum of the nordic country and In Germany in BLUE JEANS | KULT. KOMMERZ. KUNST. at the Museumsquartier Osnabrück as well as the charity innovative #iClapFor and Pin Your Thanks.
His well knowns shows have included 'Behind Closed Doors' and 'My Beautiful Launderette' 2016 and Hotel California in 2019. In San Francisco he has unveiled permanent installation of the Secret Garden at the New San Fran Flower Mart. In 2022 he became a founding member of Art Materialism, a movement of artists that had become known for discovering and making their career out of one material.
Having lived and worked in Sydney, Australia, Skane in Sweden and Amsterdam he now is based in Poplar, East London.
Watch out more details on future shows on www.ianberry.art
///// UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS
///// PAST EXHIBITIONS
Das Museumsquartier Osnabrück
BLUE JEANS – KULT. KOMMERZ. KUNST.
10. APRIL – 10. JULI 2022
Textil Museet
Boras, Sweden
On now til May 1 2022
Museum Rijswijk
Rijswijk, Netherlands
Nov 2020 - Aug 2021
Levi Strauss Museum
Buttenheim, Germany
Sept - Nov 2020
Spielzeug Welten Museum
Basel, Switzerland
17 October 2020 – 4 April 2021*
CANCELLED
Huddersfield Art Gallery
Huddersfield, Yorkshire, UK
Spring 2021
January 2019
in the Denim Studio, floor 3 Feb/March 2019
![London Art FairCatto Gallery16-20 January 2019 [Preview Evening 15 January]Business Design Centre 52 Upper Street London N1 0QH](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/566c9a537086d7e2aac8b23a/1544880485520-6UNJDZ2BH3OP6IJVURDZ/London+Art+Fair)
Catto Gallery
16-20 January 2019 [Preview Evening 15 January]
Business Design Centre
52 Upper Street
London N1 0QH
Scope Art Fair Miami Beach
Art Basel
December 2018
Labastide-Rouairoux, Tarn, France
Artist in Residence summer 2018
Paducah, Kentucky, USA
Ian was a special guest of the Paducah Art Alliance in the UNESCO Heritage City of Paducah in Kentucky to do an Artist in Residence.
April, 2018
Miami Basel 2017
Jonathan Levine Projects
Art Basel Miami
Booth F01
December 7 - 10, 2017
VIP | Press Preview: Dec 5, 2017
JUXTAPOZ CLUBHOUSE MIAMI
Ian featured at the Juxtapoz Clubhouse with Justapoz magazine showing the Laundromat Installation.
909 Likes, 28 Comments - Juxtapoz Magazine (@juxtapozmag) on Instagram: "Only a couple of hours left to see @ianberry.art's denim laundry installation with @redtruckgallery..."
New York Denim Days
Ian will show some of the Behind Closed Doors work at the inaugural New York Denim Days as an invited guest. You an find out more about the show here
Sept 30 – Oct 1: Denim Days Festival
Metropolitan Pavilion| 125 West 18th Street
LOVE THY DENIM
Winchester Discovery Centre
27 Aug – 23 Oct 201
Gosport Discovery Centre
29 Oct – 21 Dec 2016
Ian has exhibited all over the world, from Madeira to Miami, Sweden to San Fransisco, New Orleans to New York in Hamphire UK the Hamptons in the USA.
He has mainly shown in London, with each show selling out making it hard for his time consuming work to be seen too often. Keep an eye out on the website and social media to find out when you can see the work next.