{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1781761"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1781761/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PG4676/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PG4676/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2025PG4676","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PG4680","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PG4679","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PG4678","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PG4677","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PG4672","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PG4671","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PG4670","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PG4669","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PG4668","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1781761","accessionNumber":"LOAN:AMERICASFOUNDATION.1042-2024","objectType":"Painting","titles":[{"title":"David Bowie Three Times","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"A very large, landscape orientated oil painting on canvas. The painting depicts the figure of David Bowie in three poses from across his career. \n\nOn the left hand side, Bowie is shown as his character John Merrick from the 1980 play<i> The Elephant Man</i>. He sits in a white robe, with bare legs and arm, and a walking stick beside him. Behind him, there is a stage spotlight. There is also another smaller figure behind him, positioned under the spotlight, with a wide brimmed hat and acoustic guitar.\r\n\r\nIn the centre of the painting, Bowie is depicted as photographed by Greg Gorman in 1984. He has lighter blonde hair styled in a teddy-boy quiff, a collarless white shirt, black suit, and white socks with black shoes. He is holding a burgundy coloured electric guitar. \n\nOn the right hand side of the painting, Bowie is shown as featured on the album cover of <i>Lodger</i> in 1979. He has a ruffled dark suit with white shirt, and holds his arms and legs at awkward angles. His left hand is bandaged, and clutches a comb.\n\nThe artwork is painted in a limited colour palette of mustard yellow, khaki, poppy red, black and white. There is thick and expressive application of paint to the surface of the canvas, creating a raised texture. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Boshier, Derek","id":"A15565"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"oil paint","id":"AAT15050"},{"text":"canvas","id":"AAT14078"}],"techniques":[{"text":"painting","id":"x30598"},{"text":"stretching","id":"AAT53142"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Oil paint on canvas.","categories":[{"text":"David Bowie Archive","id":"THES394093"},{"text":"Entertainment and leisure","id":"THES48959"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2025PG4676","2025PG4680","2025PG4679","2025PG4678","2025PG4677","2025PG4672","2025PG4671","2025PG4670","2025PG4669","2025PG4668"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"SR002","id":"THES340789"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"paintings","id":"AAT33618"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"USA","id":"x29333"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"after 1984","earliest":"1985-01-01","latest":null},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"The painting references a photograph taken by Greg Gorman in 1984. "}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Lent by the V&A Americas Foundation through the generosity of Jones/Tintoretto Entertainment Company LLC","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"223.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"298","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"12","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"Depth of travel frame"}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"David Bowie was introduced to pop artist Derek Boshier by Brian Duffy in 1979, and the pair went on to have a long-lasting creative relationship and friendship. Boshier designed stage sets and album covers for Bowie, including<i> Lodger</i> (1979) and <i>Let's Dance</i> (1983).\n\r\nBoshier also made several paintings featuring Bowie. Boshier painted this piece, 'David Bowie Three Times', depicting Bowie in three personas or characters; as Joseph Merrick in <i>The Elephant Man</i> in 1980, in a photograph by Greg Gorman taken in 1984, and on the front cover of <i>Lodger</i> in 1979. It is unknown when this piece was painted - it was at least after the year 1984, based on the references made in the images.\n\nLater, Boshier revisted the same format with the pieces 'David Bowie Twice', ' David Bowie and Teresa Cornelys'  and 'David Bowie, Jack Karoac and David Bowie' (all 2016). These paintings similarly depicted Bowie in different characters, sometimes along other pop cultural figures. ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Oil painting, 'David Bowie Three Times' by Derek Boshier, date unknown","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["LOAN:AMERICASFOUNDATION.1042-2024"],"accessionNumberNum":"1042","accessionNumberPrefix":"LOAN:AMERICASFOUNDATION","accessionYear":2024,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"David Bowie Archive Number","id":"THES394108"},"number":"0000.5014.0004"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-02","recordCreationDate":"2024-06-11","availableToBook":false}}