Renowned British artist Julie Verhoeven currently has an exhibition of new prints and vintage drawings at The Union Club on display until 27th October 2023.
Wildly feminine and irrepressibly naughty, ‘Don’t. don’t you want me?’ has a “fur coat and no knickers vibe”, says Julie Verhoeven. Tragi-comic lusty ladies, rendered in her indomitable pen and ink style, are the stars of this show; forming an unruly cohort, with scant regard for social graces.
I loved the flirtatious concept of having a show in a cocktail bar and potentially titillating or repelling the
Julie Verhoeven
punters, that might frequent such an establishment. It is rather sad to admit but I draw to be seen, in a
desperate act of display. Somewhat melodramatic, but this urgency to draw continues to amplify, as time
starts to diminish. Drawing satisfies my primal urge to make a mess and feel something, anything. Don’t. Don’t you want me? is a brazen display of wanton prints and drawings looking for their forever
home.
Printed in editions of just five, each print is hand-finished, signed and numbered by the artist. The Union
Club welcomes you to come and take a look.
Julie Verhoeven, ‘Don’t. don’t you want me?’, Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm – 27th October 2023
The Union Club | 49-50 Greek St, London W1D 4EQ | unionclub.co.uk | @unionclub.co.uk
About the artist
Julie Verhoeven (b.1969) completed a fashion diploma at Medway College, Kent (now University for the
Creative Arts), and began her career, aged 18, as first assistant to John Galliano; continuing this role with
Martine Sitbon in Paris. She initially worked as an illustrator, and subsequently as a designer and stylist,
with brands such as Louis Vuitton, Versace, Mulberry, Chloe, Marc Jacobs, et al.
In 2002, Julie began her forays into the art world. Notable solo exhibitions include, Man Enough To Be a
Woman, MU, Eindhoven, The Netherlands, 2009; Whiskers Between My Legs, Institute of Contemporary
Arts, London, 2014; The Toilet Attendant…Now Wash Your Hands, Frieze London, 2016; #postivevibesonly,
Quench Gallery, Margate (2023).
Julie fronted Sky Arts’ The Art of the Joy of Sex (2015) and created a video work in response to the 1970s
sex manual, The Joy of Sex, by Alex Comfort. She has three monographs published: Fatbottomedgirls 003 (TDM, 2002); Gas Book 13 (Gas As Interface Co, 2004); A Bit of Rough (MU Gallery Eindhoven, 2009); and one collaborative book, I want your meat & cheese, blood & pie with Alan Faulds (Baron Books, 2023).
Julie is an associate lecturer on the MA Fashion course at Central Saint Martins. The Victoria & Albert Museum acquired over 100 of Julie’s drawings and prints in 2011. Her work is also held in the collections of University Arts London; Migros Museum, Zurich; and Valeria Napoleone.
