David Bowie was known not only as a musician but also as a visual artist. This document highlights 25 of Bowie's own paintings that showcase his artistic talents and influences from expressionist artists. The paintings include portraits of friends like Iggy Pop, self-portraits, and a South Africa series reflecting on colonialism. Bowie continuously worked on a "DHead" series and made preparatory sketches for projects. His artwork showed a postmodern expressionist style and provides insight into Bowie's creative spirit beyond his music.

1. A Soulful Art Legacy: 25 David Bowie
Paintings
David Bowie Paintings: Just like many others around the globe, I was saddened by
the departure of a great artist of our age – David Bowie. I have to admit, though,
my sadness is somehow selfish. I knew that it wouldn’t be long until my turn facing
the end of this life, just like my favourite artist who sang me these songs that I
grew up listening to.
However, there are some artists behind the mask of sadness, are simply
prompted to promote their freshly-made paintings and prints, to profit from
shocked fans who want to pay tribute to their hero. On that very same day!
So, instead of sharing arts made on the death of David Bowie, here I would like to
share some of his very own artwork. Let’s pay real tribute to him by celebrating
his creativity! David Bowie paintings show a knowledgeable approach to art,
influenced by Frank Auerbach, David Bomberg, Francis Bacon, Francis Picabia…
It also shows a touch of post-modernism, more precisely neo-expressionism
movement:

2. Turkish Father and Son – 1978

3. Squeeze 2000 – 1996

4. Portrait of JO – 1976

5. Hearts Filthy Lesson – 1995

6. Dry Heads Capetown – 1995

7. Child in Berlin – 1977

8. The rape of Bigarschol – 1996

9. Present future accepted – 1995

10. I am a World Champion – 1977

11. Evol for the Missing – 1996

12. Berlin landscape with JO – 1978 (Portrait of Iggy Pop (James Osterberg))

13. DHead series
Bowie continuously painted these DHeads during his career, but it only went
public around1994.

14. DHeads II

15. DHead LV – Portrait of Mike Garson

16. South Africa series
An exploration of Bowie’s thoughts on the “white ancestor” story, gleaned from his
trip to South Africa. The artist wrote: “In 1995 Iman and I took our first trip to South
Africa. One of the prevailing stories handed down is that when the first tribes saw
the white man they presumed they were being visited by their ancestors, as in their
mythology the ancestors appear as a ghost-like white form"
Ancestor

17. Ancestor II

18. Sketches & studies
Preparatory drawings by David Bowie for di"erent projects, including an
unrealised film set in Hunger City, 1974.

19. Study

21. Study

22. Study

23. Drawing on Gitane Packet

24. Self-portraits
Self portrait – 1996

25. Self portrait – 1996

26. Self portrait – 1996

27. Self-portrait – 1978, Inspired by the cover for the album cover of Heroes (Victoria
and Albert Museum)
Last updated: January 19, 2016 at 19:18 pm
Sources: TheTelegraph – Bowieart – Talking Art With… (NewYork Times)