Biography

This is the icon age. Given the mass of signs and symbols that bombard our consciousness, we think in iconographic terms. We live and breathe in icons. The English artist Patrick Thomas (Liverpool, 1965) is iconographiste. His graphic art is rooted in popular imagery that is routinely repurposed and recomposed; he transforms the most common visual artifacts into uncommon commentary on society and politics.

Thomas' imagery is recognisable yet surprising, disturbing yet comforting. What does comforting mean in the context of his myriad of guns and skulls? Thomas' prints are beautifully crafted, subtly coloured, smartly conceived. There is comfort in his virtuosity. The images also draw the attention of the viewer and leave a mental "cookie". They are signposts of the contemporary scene, and milestones in the history of pop culture. ©2009 Steven Heller