James Francis Gill

About

One of the last-remaining, original pioneers of the pop art movement, James Francis Gill, will appear at Castle Fine Art to mark the launch of his new series, Women in Water.  

The event is part of an exclusive four-date UK tour, where guests will have the incredible opportunity to meet Gill and view an exhibition of his limited-edition and original works. 

A peer of Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, Gill rose to fame in the early 1960s as one of the first artists to combine photographic figurative art with abstract compositions – a style which heavily contributed to the establishment of 'pop art'.  

Born in Texas in 1934, James Francis Gill studied architecture at university, before moving to Los Angeles in 1962, where he caught the eye of Felix Landau – one of the most respected art dealers in America.  

It was in this year that Gill's now prestigious 'Marilyn Triptych' was acquired by New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), years before his then pop art peers, graced its walls. The artwork depicts the story of Marilyn Monroe's life across three images and remains in MoMA to this day.  

Gill's exploration of modern celebrity culture would later become all the more poignant in 1972 when he chose to step away from the limelight, and retreat into self-imposed exile at the height of his career, owing to the pressures and lifestyle of his own celebrity status.   

The distinct footprints he had left in the world of art meant his re-discovery in the late 1990s was inevitable and his place in fine art history re-affirmed.   

Gill's collection, Women in Water, was first conceived in the 1960s. This body of work sees the artist present a series of female figures in a suspended, almost timeless state, poised at the edge of movement, immersed in water. It reflects Gill's enduring fascination with the female form — not as subject alone, but as an emotional presence.

Speaking ahead of his appearance in Exeter, James Francis Gill said: "It's a true pleasure to return to the UK with this collection – I look forward to sharing it with an audience that embraces bold expression and timeless beauty in the same way I do."

Guests at the event will have the opportunity to experience, and take home, newly released limited-edition artworks from the Women in Water series, alongside original studies and canvases never before shown in the UK. A specially commissioned short film will also be screened, offering a deeper glimpse into Gill's legacy. 
 
Frankie Washington, Head of Creative at Castle Fine Art said: "We are honoured to welcome this genuine icon of modern art to our galleries. Gill's influence spans generations, and this deeply personal collection is a reminder of his enduring relevance. It offers us an intimate glimpse into the mind of an artist who has never stopped evolving over six decades."