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.

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

///// EXHIBITIONS ON NOW

BEYOND DENIM

Kalyon Kültür, Istanbul, Turkey

20 Nov 2024 - 14 Feb 2025

///// PAST EXHIBITIONS

THE GARDEN MUSEUM

The Secret Garden

13 Jul - 8 Sep 2024

ART MATERIALISM

Catto Gallery, London

20 October 2024

Das Museumsquartier Osnabrück

BLUE JEANS – KULT. KOMMERZ. KUNST.

10. APRIL – 10. JULI 2022

Huddersfield Art Gallery

Huddersfield, Yorkshire, UK

Spring 2021

Hotel California

July 1 - 28 2019

Catto Gallery

100 Heath Street, Hampstead.

Soho Records

Smallest Gallery in Soho

62 Dean Street | Soho | London | W1D 4QF

on until Jan 20 2019

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

New York Denim Days

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

Catto Gallery London

16 - 30 November 2016

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.