Bowie’s Passion For the Arts
Beyond his personal art collection, Bowie also played a role in the broader art world. He took up a position on the editorial board of the art journal Modern Painters in the 1990s, where he conducted interviews with artists and wrote art reviews. He was an avid reader who was known to have strong opinions, and was often very detailed in discussing artwork.
Bowie was also a painter himself, reflecting the same eclectic influences, innovation and stylistic evolution that marked his musical career. His early work was strongly influenced by the work of British artist David Bomberg. Many of his paintings feature distorted or exaggerated figures and bold, vibrant colours, echoing the emotional intensity and avant-garde style of these movements. Bowie’s paintings often incorporate text, symbols, and abstract elements, suggesting layers of meaning and inviting interpretation — and reflecting his admiration for Basquiat. One of Bowie’s most famous paintings is Self-Portrait, a work that reflects his interest in the distortion of the human form and his use of vibrant colour to convey emotional states. The self-portrait, with its mask-like face and intense, mismatched eyes, is reminiscent of his alter ego, Ziggy Stardust, hinting at the blurred boundaries between Bowie’s art and his music.
Throughout his life, Bowie was relatively private about his paintings. While he did exhibit his work in a few galleries and museums, he often seemed more comfortable letting his music, rather than his visual art, take centre stage. Nevertheless, his paintings provide a fascinating insight into his creative process and the breadth of his artistic vision.