James Springall (b. 1977) is a British artist who works with found paper imagery, recontextualising it to create new narratives. His analogue photomontages and collages often employ satire as a form of social commentary and to explore the human condition.


He has exhibited internationally at venues including the Royal Academy of Arts, Saatchi Gallery, Jealous Gallery, The Bomb Factory, Art Car Boot Fair, Towner Gallery, Feinkunst Krüger and LESS. His work is published in The Age of Collage 3 (Gestalten) and has been featured by AnOther (In the End All Things Will Be Known, The Ancient Art of Beauty), Huck, Collé and Elephant.

He has been commissioned by Rough Trade, Noble Rot and VICE, undertaken residencies with Ideas Island (Vifärnaholme Island) and House of Shila (Athens), and curated contemporary collage exhibitions for Jealous Gallery and The Viborg Museum. He lives and works near Rye, East Sussex.




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“James Springall uses collage to make perfect pop art.” — Gestalten

“Weird and wonderful paper pastiches... a dose of optimism that even the most cynically minded would struggle to remain impervious to. With just the right balance of playful, lighthearted spirit and mystique... the images radiate irreverence.” — AnOther

“Collages known for their punchy, provocative aesthetic.” — Huck

“An early pre-punk punk, in response to an onlooker spewing the remark, ‘nice costume’ said ‘at least I know I’m wearing a costume.’ This notion cuts to the heart of most people’s spurious belief about originality and ownership. And we find it perfectly relevant to James Springall’s elegant use of appropriated images—also proving Springall knows exactly what art always actually is.” — Cargo

“Small, seductive works that nod toward Dada and Surrealism. Springall’s a minimalist, often creating compositions comprised entirely of just two pieces of aged paper... these simple gestures take on complex meanings, a social commentary speaking to pop-culture and personal identity.” — Collé




Photograph by Eftihia Stefanidi, Athens, 2026


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© James Springall 2026