Rock musician Jack White is exhibiting his art works made over 30 years in his first major show. The show titled 'These Thoughts May Disappear' includes sculptures, installations and furniture design products inspired by Detroit Cass Corridor artists and his own background in upholstery.
Rock musician Jack White is going public with a part of his life he's kept very personal for the past three decades.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The former White Stripes frontman is exhibiting his art work, much of which has laid dormant in his garage for years.
In a show titled 'These Thoughts May Disappear', the multiple Grammy-winning artist draws on his carpentry talents developed when he was an upholsterer before he found fame.
Despite performing to packed stadiums around the world, White freely admits to being nervous about going public with such personal displays of his creativity.
"Whatever you're known for first in the mainstream is kind of a curse, in a way, because everyone wants you to just do that for the rest of your life," says White. "So this is one of those things where I hesitated for decades to share this in an exhibition but now I guess I just finally relented and did it.”
White's work has a very distinct pop art feel which may explain why it's on show at British artist Damien Hirst's Newport Street Gallery in London.
According to White's studio, the Nashville based musician and record producer has collaborated throughout his career with numerous artists to examine the commercialisation of art, and particularly "draws inspiration from the urban environment, mid-century modern furniture designs, and De Stijl and Dada movements."
He describes his work as "Hardware Store Art", a synthesis of assemblage and re-appropriation using a wide range of material to construct and carve sculptures. White opened his own upholstery shop, Third Man Upholstery, in 1996.
"I've been tripping over some of these pieces for 30 years in my garage and in my attic and never really seen them up on a pedestal or on a wall with beautiful lighting," said White. "It's making me want to set up a different lighting scenario back in my studio at home.”
These Thoughts May Disappear is on at Newport Street Gallery in London until 13 September 2026.
