Ronnie Wood has today (1) unveiled his new painting of the Rolling Stones, the Picasso-inspired Abstract Performance. The songwriter, artist, and guitarist revealed the new portrayal of his fellow band members with a surprise visit, appropriately, to Wood Lane, outside shopping destination Westfield, in west London. The mystery painting appeared on a billboard at Westfield earlier this week.
Limited edition prints of Abstract Performance are on sale from today, and fans and collectors of Wood’s work have only two weeks in which to buy them, until February 14, at www.ronniewood.com. They are priced at £1500 and will be shipped in the week beginning February 28.
The painting, completed in 2020, is the latest in Wood’s series of works inspired by the abstract paintings of Pablo Picasso: in this case, 1925’s The Three Dancers, with Wood exploring the conceit of depicting himself and his fellow Stones in the role of the dancers.
“I call it The Picasso Stones,” said “Woody” of Abstract Performance. “It’s my interpretation of Picasso’s painting The Three Dancers. Looking at the original, I was inspired to do my own take. I had great fun doing it. Picasso did his own take on a lot of artists, but I bet he never thought no one would ever do a take on him. I hope and think he’d be flattered, but also a bit shocked and pleasantly surprised at my take on his work.”
For the first time among Wood’s art, the edition size of the painting will solely be dictated by the quantity sold within the limited sale time. Each print will be individually hand signed, numbered, and personalized by Wood, who will add a personal dedication to each collector.
Wood’s work as an artist is widely collected and exhibited throughout the world. In November, two more prints were added to the Ronnie Wood Collectors’ Series, Satisfaction III and Stray Cat.
