Catalogue_FINAL_1.3

James Straffon
British artist
IN 2006 James Straffon founded an online cycling journal, containing both diary, observation and comment,
photography, film-making, and prose. As its success grew, cycling biannual The Ride published Straffon’s
writing and photography [Seat of Learning] in its debut issue. Around this time he began experimenting with
works on canvas, adapting a passion and fascination for cycling heritage and culture into a broad series of
mixed-media artworks, featuring reworked iconic imagery. British Fashion Designer Paul Smith, who shares
an affection for bygone cycling adventure, offered Straffon his first solo exhibition [2010] at The Globe store,
within Heathrow airports Terminal 5. The following year new work was shown at Paul Smith’s flagship store
in Covent Garden, London. In 2012, Straffon’s debut major solo exhibition - LE TOUR - was presented at
a gallery in London’s Piccadilly Arcade. Within the accompanying book, British Professional Road Cyclist
David Millar stated “...the Tour de France has become art.”
The Grand Départ of the 2014 Tour de France was set in the UK. For this Straffon created Carbon, Sulphur and
Paint - a broad array of works, shown through Redhouse Originals, Harrogate - comprising a gallery exhibition
and site-specific mural located on a former factory building. Concisely encapsulating this magnum opus, Paul Smith
candidly declared “…simply great stuff!”
Having founded The Turnpike Art Group [a London-based street art organisation] in 2012, Straffon later
attended the Upfest Street Art Festival, Bristol in 2015. Subsequently, he has been commissioned to create large scale
wall-interventions, for both interior and exterior projects, and continues to explore the fusion of legacy culture and
contemporary artistic practice. His work is collected globally. When The Fox met The Rooster And Other Stories [2017]
represents Straffon’s first major overseas exhibition.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Banque Havilland
Linklaters
Mr Peter Goes
Mr Gren Carr-Jones
HM Ambassador John Marshall and the staff at the British Embassy
Ms Claire Jordan
Ville de Luxembourg
Luxembourg Ministry of the Economy
Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Luxembourg Ministry of Sport
Luxembourg Ministry of Tourism
GreatArt, Alton, Hampshire, UK
This catalogue is published to accompany the exhibition When The Fox met The Rooster And Other Stories held at the British Embassy Residence, 5
boulevard Joseph II, Luxembourg, and across the 20 communes through which the 2017 Tour de France passed on Stages 3 and 4. The exhibition
comprises 12 mixed media canvases (146 x 114cm) and over 20 street artworks.
© James Straffon When The Fox met The Rooster And Other Stories 2017. All rights reserved. www.james-straffon.co.uk
ISBN 978-1-5272-0946-6
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording
or otherwise, without prior permission of the copyright holder.
Main artwork credits: Frederico Bahamontes - adapted from an original image by Nijs, Jac. de/Anefo | Jacques Anquetil - adapted from an original image
by Nijs, Jac. de/Anefo | Eddy Merckx - adapted from an original image by Gorgio Lotti | Joop Zoetemelk - adapted from an original image by NL-HaNA,
Anefo; Andy Schleck - adapted from an original image by Matthieu Riegler, CC-by | Mark Cavendish - adapted from an original image by Antoine Blondin.
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