Iggy Pop Life Class

A catalogue of life class drawings of rock and roll icon Iggy Pop in the nude, conceived by conceptual artist Jeremy Deller.

Twenty-one artists, from all walks of life, gathered at the New York Academy of Art on Sunday, February 21, 2016, for a special life drawing class with a guest model: American rock legend Iggy Pop.

The class was organised by the Brooklyn Museum and conceived by artist Jeremy Deller. In stark contrast to his kinetic stage persona, Pop methodically posed nude on a different kind of stage, whilst the participating artists – representing New York’s diverse community and ranging from 19 to 70 years of age – depicted his body in the wide-ranging styles expected from a mix of students, practicing artists, and retirees.

Iggy Pop Life Class includes drawings by all participating artists, ranging from five-minute sketches to studies to presentation drawings – 107 works in all. Also included are candid photos of the process alongside comparative works from the Brooklyn Museum’s collections. The book features an introduction by Deller, an interview with Pop about his rationale for participating in this project, and an essay on the practice of life drawing in art history and the studio.