Russell Young: Diamond Dusted and Star-studded: Celebrity Portraits
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Russell Young’s celebrity portraits reimagine some of the most recognizable faces of the last century through a lens that is both glamorous and introspective. Working with iconic images of figures like Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, James Dean, and Kate Moss, Young elevates familiar pop-cultural symbols into textured, emotionally charged works of art. His signature use of diamond dust transforms each portrait into a shimmering surface that evokes the seduction of fame, drawing viewers in with brilliance before revealing the vulnerability embedded beneath. Rather than celebrating celebrity as spectacle, Young exposes the tension between public persona and private reality, capturing moments where charisma meets fragility. His large-scale silkscreens strip away the mythology surrounding these figures, allowing their humanity to come forward through subtle expressions, unresolved emotion, and the layered depth of his technique. By reframing icons through both glamour and grit, Young invites a reconsideration of fame itself—its power, its cost, and the complex individuals caught inside its glow.
