FOREVER YOUNG:
A Retrospective
Below (left to right):
Buster-Jangle; Crossroads;
Redwing; Tumbler-Snapper; and
Wigwam from the series
Dreamland, California, 2015;
Oil and pigments on linen.
112
OnV
i e w
Ma
g a z i n e
.
ern England,” Russell Young
spent his first few months
in foster care before being
adopted by Ken and Lesley
Young. As a child, he considered his world to be dark.
He disliked school and often
skipped class. He enjoyed
punk music and watching
soccer matches. He also
developed a fascination with
American culture and was
drawn to the quintessential
“American Dream,” which
he thought represented freedom and possibility.
Young eventually devel-
c om
•
O
c t o b e r
/D
e c e m b e r
oped an interest in photography and studied photography, film, and graphic design
at the Chester Art College.
He continued his education
at Exeter Art College before
moving to London, where
he met photographer, Christos Raftopoulos, who offered
him a job as his assistant.
Raftopoulos also encouraged
Russell to branch out on his
own and in 1986, Young’s
professional career took off
with an assignment to shoot
George Michael for the album cover of Michael’s
2015