The Connor Brothers have quickly become one of the hottest names in contemporary art. Their works are in possession of major public and private collections worldwide, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Penguin Collection and the collections of Omar Koch or Niarcho. They have also had sold-out exhibitions in Los Angeles and Sydney and curated the performance of Pussy Riot in Banksy’s Dismaland exhibition in 2015.
The Connor Brothers use collages to undermine the meanings of old master paintings and old romance novels, and take a cynical and haunting look at contemporary culture. Their work reinterprets objects from the past, providing a humorous, playful twist on contemporary societies’ obsession with wealth, fame and the unrealistic idealism of human relationships.
The duo “The Connor Brothers” are fictional characters, a pseudonym. The couple broke into the art world in 2012, when Franklyn and Brendan Connor, escaping a Christian cult that had cut them off from modern society as children. After fleeing at the age of 16, they were bombarded with new images and experiences that they found difficult to understand. In their efforts to create order, they processed the new world with the help of sketchbooks, from which a series of paintings would eventually emerge. These pieces were in turn sold in auction houses and galleries around the world.
The Connor Brothers work beyond the canvas, blending truth and artistry to both delight and disorient their audience. GALERIE FRANK FLUEGEL has had the duo in its program since 2019. Every interaction with their work plays with emotions, reality and the need for distraction.
Their success eventually made history an obstacle, so they revealed themselves but kept their stage name. Although their identity became known, the fictional biography can still be found everywhere, alongside the art they jointly develop as a form of therapy.
After the duo maintained this fictional biography for over 18 months, The Connor Brothers decided to break out of cover and reveal their true identities, Mike Snelle and James Golding. This revelation led to a huge increase in sales, as their works were sold at major international auctions together with contemporary masters.
While The Connor Brothers is best known for their Pulp Fiction series – a host of Mills and Boon inspired characters quoting Oscar Wilde, Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw – the couple are not afraid to get into real trouble.
The Connor Brothers’ artistic journey began over a decade ago in James’s kitchen during a challenging period in their lives when they lived together. They created collages to bring laughter to each other, embracing a sense of freedom, fun, and silliness. Initially, their artwork was a private joke between them, never intended for public display. However, James eventually suggested exhibiting their work, and after some persuasion, they agreed under the condition of adopting a pseudonym. Over ten years later, The Connor Brothers have become a significant part of their lives.
The idea behind The Connor Brothers was born out of a desire to make art while avoiding public scrutiny during difficult times. As their art careers began to flourish, they eventually revealed their true identities in an interview with The Telegraph, as it became increasingly challenging to maintain the anonymity.
Their work draws inspiration from pop art, particularly Andy Warhol’s innovations. They satirize American pulp fiction “dime novels” and elevate them to the status of fine art. While the content of pulp fiction can be bleak, The Connor Brothers aim to provide new context, making it relevant to contemporary times and transforming negativity into positivity.
Their creative process involves frequent phone calls, sharing what they believe are brilliant ideas or engaging in nonsensical conversations in the back of taxis. Only a small percentage of these ideas materialize into series, projects, or artworks.
The Connor Brothers have a strong commitment to charitable causes, particularly those related to mental health and social issues. Their personal experiences with mental health issues and addiction drive their connection to these causes. They believe that without proper support, anyone’s life can quickly spiral out of control, regardless of their background. Collaborating with organizations that support mental health, homelessness, and refugee charities allows them to make a meaningful impact and assist those in need.
In their studio, they value each other’s presence and good music as essential elements. During the lockdown, they appreciated the opportunity to strip things back and work as a duo again.
As for the future, The Connor Brothers aspire to own a woolly mammoth skeleton and dream of going off the radar and living in the woods someday.
To them, art holds immense significance. They believe that truly remarkable art has the power to alter one’s perception of the world and their relationship to it. It provides an awe-inspiring experience, even for those who identify as atheists.
The Connor Brothers live and work today in London.
SELECTED COLLECTIONS:
The Victoria & Albert Museum, London
The Penguin Books Art Collection
The Niarchos Collection
The Omer Koc Collection
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