ESPIRA

Espira was born in 1974 and raised within a strict Mormon church family in the remote English Countryside.

Trained from an early age to become a Missionary for the faith, he slowly turned his back on the Religion to become a self-taught artist moving to London in the 1990's.

The collision of visionary aesthetics and transgressive iconography within his work lure the spectator into a world which evokes an Apocalyptic and dangerous message. Often considered by many to be a savage and darkly humourous assault on contemporary culture.

Working in many varied art mediums Espira has become widely recognised for his powerful computer illustrations and more recently for his large scale paintings. Each piece is a stunning composition showing a range of influences from the banal and everyday, high fashion, period costumes, raw meat and then coming full circle through the inclusion of war images and ritualistic religious symbolism.

Espira's art has been shown across the globe in many varied and unusual places, from traditional galleries to a recent show within the legendary London fetish club Torture Garden. Currently based in London ( U.K )  his art can often be found in many publications ranging from Fashion Magazines, online e-zines, art blogs and illustration books. With a very strong body of work and numerous highly acclaimed group and solo exhibitions behind him, this underground artist is forging an amazing future.

PRESS

 'Punk rock for the Art world...' -

VOLTCASE MAGAZINE

'Paintings which combine Marie Antoinette with the mundane, guns with

geishas and biological scientific drawings with beauty, in an eerie yet

exciting way'. -KCTV

'Open-legged porn models with gun turrets for heads and bloody anatomical aberrations sit next to bat-winged fashionista demons sporting nazi spiked helmets,as they devour shopping trollies full of 'Tesco' no frills bacon rashers and McDonald burgers all framed with a renaissance tableau!' -

ALTERNATIVE MAGAZINE

"Espira's work is deliciously disturbing.  He combines natural wonders, pop culture, and period dress to create mutant forms that are challenging and transgressive.  And, at least to my warped mind, really funny as well."   -

PHANTASMAPHILE

http://galerie13jm.com/Pages/Artiste/ESPIRA/ESPIRA.html