English Contemporary Artist · b. 1978, Plymouth
JJ Adams
Mixed Media · Contemporary Pop Art & Graphic Design
1978
Born, Plymouth UK
15 Minutes
2015 Spring Collection Sold Out In
£1 Million+
Generated — 2015 Spring Collection
“The key for me is not to take myself or my work too seriously – just have fun creating and experimenting. I create artwork for other people to enjoy, and I don’t attempt to save the world with a message that I don’t truly believe.”
— JJ Adams
Signature Style
Boldly blurring the lines between new media, pop art, digital art and photography
JJ Adams is an English mixed media contemporary pop artist and graphic designer known for his audacious, multi-layered transformations of iconic figures and landmarks. The rebellious son of a Baptist preacher, Adams was born in Plymouth, UK, in 1978.
At the age of six, he moved with his family to Cape Town, South Africa, where he spent his formative years in the studio of landscape artist Derric van Rensburg. This early immersion in bold colour and graphic art, combined with work as an apprentice at a Cape Town tattoo studio, shaped his distinctive, edgy aesthetic.
His pieces employ spray paint, acrylics, stencilling, screen printing, collage and digital matte painting. He reimagines celebrity imagery and cultural icons with tattoos, hidden messages and a playful, irreverent eye. Major influences include Norman Rockwell, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Peter Blake and Banksy.
Career & Recognition
- Press & Collaborations Vogue · GQ · Rolls-Royce · Bang & Olufsen
- Awards Finalist — Fine Art Trade Guild Best Selling Published Artist, 2016 · Shortlisted — Artist of the Year, 2017 · Finalist — Most Popular Published Artist, 2019
- Philanthropy Willow Foundation · British Liver Trust · Lymphoma Action · NHS
Collections & Collectors
Returning to the UK in the mid‑nineties, Adams pursued studies in commercial printing at Plymouth College of Art and Design. He worked as a freelance graphic designer and sign maker before selling his first acrylic paintings through a gallery in 2009, then moving to London to commit to fine art full‑time.
Adams is frequently described as ‘the Frank Zappa’ or ‘the Hendrix of the UK fine art scene’. Beyond the gallery, Adams has curated interiors for three London restaurants and bars.
JJ Adams works from a studio near London, where he continues to produce highly collectable original and limited‑edition works. His creations are held in private collections worldwide and are sought after for their wit, craftsmanship and investment potential.
JJ Adams Works Available Now
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