August 28th 2024.
Next month, the Scottish city of Inverness will be graced with a display of the renowned pop artist Michael Forbes' works. Known for his unique style and bold pieces, Forbes has captured the hearts of fans such as Madonna and Ricky Gervais. This time, he has joined forces with the city's Rebel Row store to showcase his artwork featuring Highland scenes with a twist.
According to Forbes, each piece will feature strong and fearless women at its core, drawing inspiration from his previous works that addressed women's rights campaigns. The exhibition will be held at Rebel Row, a modern store on Union Street that specializes in locally woven tartan clothing. The collaboration between Forbes and Rebel Row is a natural fit, as they both share a passion for questioning society's status quo and a love for the region's culture.
Visitors can expect to see famous faces like Lily Cole perched on a majestic stag amidst a starry sky, Blondie's Deborah Harry confidently astride a giant bee, and a six-foot-tall cat dressed for battle in a typical Highland scene. Forbes describes the collaboration as a fun one, as Rebel Row shares his attitude towards living and working in the Highlands, and what it means to be Scottish. "We are rebellious and feisty, but not to a scary degree; more to a 'let's shake things up' degree - and then let's put the kettle on," he says.
Originally from Dingwall, Forbes was mentored by the late Pop artist and acclaimed sculptor Gerald Laing, who was a close friend of icons like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. His impressive body of work includes portraits of famous figures such as US presidents Barack Obama and Abraham Lincoln, The Beatles' John Lennon, and singer Taylor Swift. Earlier this year, Forbes made headlines when he painted over some of his own artwork in protest against the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the art world.
Founder of Rebel Row, Clare Campbell, expressed her excitement about having Forbes' iconic works on display in their first year of opening. "I have always admired his unique take on traditional Highland stereotypes, which challenges narrow-minded thinking," she says. Campbell invites everyone to come and witness Forbes' art, and spread the news to their friends. "As Michael says, the kettle will be at the ready," she adds. She also hints at more collaborations with Forbes in the future, promising a story of positive and creative rebellion for the Highland region. "Michael is truly an inspiration to be around and stand beside," she concludes.
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