Talisman Skulls

Elements Series

Talisman  (noun)
An object believed to bring good luck or keep its owner safe from harm

The Talisman Skull series was unveiled at Art Miami in December 2023 to critical and commercial success. Building on the success of Eternal Bloom, Talisman is a new series of exotic skulls presented as 3D lenticulars. Talisman speaks not just to a gifted instinct for melancholic romance, but also to Gary James McQueen’s history of family addiction, domestic violence and tragic early bereavement.

This set of four transient lenticulars has been inspired by Gary’s interest in Eastern culture and his passion for the natural world. The digitally sculpted artworks fuse pioneering technology with traditional values and nature’s beauty.

Symbolic Eastern references including dragons, koi, frogs and dragonflies adorn the skulls. Each is embedded within metallic decorations and set off with vibrant hues inspired by the four elements that make up all matter -  earth, water, air and fire.  

"I’ve always been drawn to Eastern culture and design as for me their use of rich symbolism is both romantic and aesthetically pleasing. With these skulls I have tried to illuminate the beauty in topics that are a bit mystical, macabre and romantic."
– Gary James McQueen

Individually signed and numbered
750mm x 600mm
Edition size 150

Still Life Series

Golden Nectar Still Life

Featuring Gary James McQueen’s Talisman skull alongside other symbols such as fruits, wine, flowers and candles, this new series of modern day vanitas still lifes are intended to remind the viewer of the vanity of worldly pleasures and goods.  Digitally sculpted and presented as 3D lenticulars, these intricate artworks bring an unerring beauty to the macabre whilst simultaneously showcasing an intriguing juxtaposition of pioneering technology and traditional artistic values.

Individually signed and numbered
750mm x 900mm
Edition size 75

Still Life Series

The Red Dragon Still Life 

“These Still Life artworks have enabled me to elaborate on the Talisman series. Allowing the viewer to step into a broader environment, these artworks bring to life a visual narrative featuring elements and artefacts from the world of the Talisman skull.”
– Gary James McQueen

Individually signed and numbered
750mm x 900mm
Edition size 75

Vanitas Skull

Antique Silver edition

The original Vanitas Skull artwork was created as the hero image for the BAFTA nominated "McQueen" film, paying homage to Gary's uncle and mentor Alexander Lee McQueen.

Shimmering in antique silver for the first time, the limited edition lenticular fuses pioneering technology with traditional values and nature’s beauty. It comprises a physical golden skull sculpture which was hand drawn and then digitally sculpted. The time-lapse of the delicate flowers, birds and moths embedded in the skull work in unison to form an intricate and exotic immersive experience. The flowers dying inside the skull’s framework set a tone that is melancholic and romantic illuminating beauty in the mystical and macabre.

"I designed Vanitas Skull with my Uncle’s spirit in mind. He would have really appreciated its melancholic romance, the combination of ideas from different sources such as motifs and natural elements, and the use of pioneering 3D art technologies."
– Gary James McQueen

Individually signed and numbered
750mm x 550mm
Edition size 200