Iggy Pop Life Class, 2016
Twenty-one artists, from all walks of life, gathered at the New York Academy of Art on Sunday, February 21, 2016, for a special life drawing class with a guest model, American rock legend Iggy Pop. The class was organized by the Brooklyn Museum and conceived by artist Jeremy Deller. The drawings created during the class will be part of a Brooklyn Museum exhibition in fall 2016.
In stark contrast to his kinetic stage persona, Pop methodically posed nude on a different kind of stage. “The life class is a special place in which to scrutinize the human form. As the bedrock of art education and art history, it is still the best way to understand the body,” says Deller. “For me it makes perfect sense for Iggy Pop to be the subject of a life class; his body is central to an understanding of rock music and its place within American culture. His body has witnessed much and should be documented.” The participating artists represent New York’s diverse community, ranging from 19 to 80 years of age with varying backgrounds, and include undergraduate and graduate students, practicing artists, and retirees. The life drawing class was led by artist and drawing professor Michael Grimaldi. The 21 participants were selected by Deller and Sharon Matt Atkins, Vice Director, Exhibitions and Collections Management, Brooklyn Museum, from recommendations made by instructors at the Brooklyn Museum’s Gallery/Studio Program, the Art Students League of New York, Kingsborough Community College, the New York Academy of Art, and Pratt Institute. The participants include: Jeremy Day, Jeannette Farrow, Margaret Fisher, Seiji Gailey, Robert Hagan, Tobias Hall, Deirdra Hazeley, Patricia Hill, Okim Woo Kim, Maureen McAllister, Kallyiah Merilus, Guno Park, Kinley Pleteau, Angel Ramirez, Robert Reid, Mauricio Rodriguez, Danielle Rubin, Taylor Schultek, Charlotte Segall, Andrew Shears, and Levan Songulashvili.