Michael promotes Brit art Stateside

11 April 2008 12:00am

A bit of Britain has arrived in Texas, thanks to English pop star George Michael and his Texan partner Kenny Goss.

The couple are displaying their collection of edgy, contemporary British art at their gallery in Dallas.

"We want to expose the Dallas art community to work that they've quite potentially never seen if they weren't able to travel, these works that in some ways may be a little controversial for one thing, a little strong," Goss said. "But let's face it, art a lot of times is about sex, love, death, loss."

The Goss-Michael Foundation's gallery is showcasing works by Damien Hirst, including his Saint Sebastian, Exquisite Pain -- a calf encased in a formaldehyde solution, its body pierced with arrows.

"Most people initially freak a little bit about Sebastian, then they stare and stare at it and they say, 'That's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen'," Goss said.

The show, curated by Hirst, also features Bitterness, which at first looks like a textured canvas and then reveals itself to be composed of dead flies in resin.

Hirst's work has brought everyone from art students to parents with their children. "People love it," Goss said.

Goss and George Michael split their time between homes in London and Dallas.

"It works great for us," said Goss. "We live in Britain almost all the time. We have a house here. So we collect amazing art in Britain, bring it to Dallas and everybody gets to see it. It keeps us busy in both places."

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