John Stezaker

John Grenville Stezaker is a British conceptual artist born in 1949. His work focuses on surrealist-influenced collages made from found images, which range from vintage photographs to old Hollywood film stills. He graduated from Slade School of Art in 1973 with a higher diploma in Fine Art. In the mid-2000s Stezaker published several books of his art. He was also until 2006, the Senior Tutor in Critical and Historical Studies at the Royal College of Art in London.

Double Shadow II, 2014

This image includes a film still and an old postcard, with the latter layered on top of the former. At first glance it is a confusing image but when I pick apart the makeup of this collage it is a fairly simple concept. The postcard has the figures cut out of it leaving a basic silhouette. I am not sure whether or not the figures from the postcard are the same men from the film still behind, but they definitely look very similar. The name of 'Double Shadow' lends itself to the concept of this work in which a shadow has been created through layers in a collage. I like this image but I don't love it, I think it is not particularly impressive execution and is a little messy in the way it is done- with raw edges and uncropped space. But others would way that it adds to the quirk of Stezaker's work.

My Work

Audrey Hepburn, Roman Holiday

Anna May Wong

Lifted from 'The Movie Book: The 1930s' and 'Audrey Hepburn, The Paramount years'

Sig Rumann

Mary Carlisle

Lifted from 'The Movie Book: The 1930s'

Donald Woods and Helen Twelvetrees in She Was a Lady (Fox)

Greta Garbo

Lifted from 'The Movie Book: The 1930s'

I quickly realised I needed to incorporate photos I had taken myself, I decided to set up a shoot in a vintage 1940s style. I did so to mimic the found photos Stezaker uses in his work. I did my own hair and makeup in a vintage style: thin brows, winged liner, red lipstick and an incredibly hair sprayed hairdo.

f/4.5 1/60 ISO:2000

Above vintage postcard from 1978 scanned and combined on photoshop with self-portrait.

Made on photoshop.

Made on photoshop

Still from 'Breakfast at Tiffanys'.

Cut out George Peppard's characterand replaced it with a portrait.

Page updated

Report abuse