David Hoyle

“I went out one night and it lasted three years.” David Hoyle

David Hoyle is a multidisciplinary artist who explores power, oppression, the body and gender. Born in Blackpool and based in Manchester, David's work over the last thirty years has collided working class variety, pub and club and drag performance with elements of the American and European avantgarde. David's paintings and drawings have also been exhibited internationally.

David's live, often unscripted, work is funny, angry, occasionally a bit frightening, but above all passionately committed to a better, a more peaceful and more loving world. 

Significant works have included two series on Channel 4 "The Divine David Presents" (1999) and "The Divine David Heals" (2000) as the legendary persona David killed off on ice at the Streatham International Ice Arena, performing afterwards as simply David Hoyle.

This year has seen a major biographical touring work Diamond commemorating 60 years since the Wolfenden Report, as well as God Is Watching You a film for the Tate directed by Matt Lambert and RESPONSE for Studio Voltaire. David also regularly makes new live performances at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern and Bethnal Green Working Men's Club, produced by Nick Blackburn and in collaboration with fashion designer Rick Owens. Snowflake with Neil Bartlett will be a one-off performance at Bethnal Green on Wednesday 13 December.

David Hoyle has recently collaborated with photographer and artist Holly Revell to produce a limited edition book of photography and artworks emerging from their intimate eight-year relationship. As well as more than 300 extraordinary unpublished images of David backstage and on stage, the book features over 25 unique artworks created by David especially for the book, the infamous ‘Men’ speech, anecdotes from some of David’s collaborators including Penny Arcade and Christeene and texts by Lois Keidan (Live Art Development Agency), Paul Darling (David's curator) and Nick Blackburn (David's producer).

Holly is a firm believer in the necessity for good quality, honest documentation of queer culture, its preservation and ensuring its place in history, hence this book which is an intimate peak behind the magician’s curtain.

David Hoyle: Parallel Universe is available from hollyrevell.co.uk, Unbound, The Photographers Gallery, Gays the Word and Donlon Books.

Categories: Featured Artist

Date Posted: 22 November 2017