Schoony

Born in Hertfordshire in 1974, Schoony has been working on films since the age of 15, focusing primarily on special effects, prosthetics, props and make-up. Notable films the artist has worked on include the Harry Potter series, Gladiator and Where the Wild Things Are. While working in the film industry, Schoony developed a keen eye and expertise in creating hyperrealistic sculpture and casts. He was inspired by the creative energy in his environment, including his family members, who also worked in film, to apply his skills and vision in the field of visual arts.

The street art exhibition One foot in the Grove at Mutate Britain in 2008 proved to be a career-making milestone for the artist, whose most famous work ‘Boy Soldier’ appeared as an installation alongside a roster of well-known street artists such as D*FACE, Inkie, Dan Baldwin and INSA. This work was first unveiled in front of the Houses of Parliament in the anti-war protests of 2008. Another famous and more recent piece is called ‘Bruiser’ (2017), showing a little girl emerging from a panel wearing boxing gloves. Both artworks have been produced in multiple editions cast in various materials from wood to bronze and gold.

Since his breakthrough, his works have been especially popular amongst celebrity collectors like Brad Pitt, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rita Ora and Damon Albarn from the famous British band Blur.

The shirtless child is a recurring motif in his works. It’s a strong juxtaposition of childlike innocence and naivety to the horrors of war and violence, confronting the viewer with how children are forced into war in conflict zones across the globe. Schoony’s powerful use of symbolism reinforces the political message underlining his works, addressing Western society’s dissociative and commercialised relationship with warfare.