Eternal Bloom is a new edition artwork by Gary James McQueen, conceived as a derivative of the sold-out Vanitas Skull . Slightly reduced in scale and realised as a three-dimensional work, the piece represents a considered evolution of one of the artist’s most recognisable and celebrated images.

The original Vanitas Skull was created as the hero image for the BAFTA-nominated film McQueen. It originated as a physical sculpture constructed from resin and finished with gold leaf, incorporating a detailed arrangement of flowers, birds, and moths that collectively form the silhouette of a skull. Conceived as a transient work, the image was later translated into a lenticular artwork in which the flowers gradually decayed within the gilded framework.

In contrast, Eternal Bloom does not transition. The flowers remain perpetually in full bloom, suspending a moment of beauty and life in defiance of decay. This conceptual shift directly informs the title of the work.

Drawing on the Vanitas tradition, Eternal Bloom continues McQueen’s exploration of beauty, mortality, and transformation, reaffirming the enduring relevance of the motif while offering a new sculptural expression for contemporary audiences.