Chris Gollon
Encyclopedia
Chris Gollon is a British
painter.
Gollon was born in London
, England
. He still lives near London, working in his studio in Surrey. He regularly exhibits in London at IAP Fine Art.
In 2000, Gollon gained a major commission from the Church of England
for fourteen Stations of the Cross
paintings for a historic London church designed by Sir John Soane
. Gollon was a controversial choice, since he is not a practising Christian. In order to carry out the commission, and for theological matters, he agreed to collaborate with Fr Alan Green, Rector of St John on Bethnal Green.
In 2001, a special exhibition of his work was held at the River and Rowing Museum
in Henley-on-Thames
because until 2005 Gollon had a connection with the river; having a studio on a private island in the Thames near Hampton Court. In 2001, the museum, aided by the Victoria and Albert Museum
, acquired a major work by Gollon entitled Big Fish Eat Little Fish, a centrepiece of the exhibition.
His painting of the fourth Station of the Cross (Jesus meets his Mother) was exhibited in St Paul's Cathedral
in 2004. In the same year, he began painting images of Albert Einstein
, before the 50th anniversary of Einstein's death in 2005 and before the centenary in 2005 of the General Theory of Relativity. Partially-inspired by a lyric in Bob Dylan
's ballad 'Desolation Row
', Chris Gollon painted 'Einstein & The Jealous Monk'. This painting was subsequently purchased by the Huddersfield Art Gallery in West Yorkshire
, where it hangs in the museum's permanent collection alongside Sir Jacob Epstein
's bust of Einstein, and works by Francis Bacon
and L.S. Lowry.
In 2007, Chris Gollon was commissioned to paint the Henley Regatta by Paul Mainds, Chief Executive & Trustee of the award-winning River & Rowing Museum. The museum's collection holds Raoul Dufy
's painting 'Regatta at Henley'. Since the Henley Royal Regatta has no silver or bronze medals, only win or lose, Gollon decided to focus with great empathy on the losing crew. The final work entitled 'Gollon At Henley' was unveiled in 2008, and is now displayed along with works by Dufy, Piper and Trevelyan in the museum's permanent collection.
A chance meeting in 2005 between British artist Chris Gollon and film makers JABOD began a creative journey, leading to the creation of a neologism, and a new cinematic art work: Kaleidomorphism. Fifteen years of Gollon's paintings and imagery, together with music that he has selected (including Calexico and Paolo Conte), combine with JABOD's design, rhythm and effects to create a unique film installation of 20 minutes length.
In 2009, he was invited to become a Fellow and First Artist in Residence at the Institute of Advanced Study, Durham University, where he took part in the Being Human research project with some of the world's leading academic thinkers. He produced 16 paintings in 10 weeks on the Being Human theme, all of which are reproduced in the catalogue 'BEING HUMAN new paintings by Chris Gollon', published by Durham University.
Also in 2009, after nine years in the making, Gollon's epic series of paintings of the Fourteen Stations of the Cross were installed in the Church of St John on Bethnal Green in East London. They were blessed and by the Bishop of London, Richard Chartres in March 2009. In the same month British novelist Sara Maitland's book 'Stations of the Cross', wholly inspired by and featuring Gollon's paintings, was published (Continuum, London & New York). The book also contains a text by Fr Alan Green about the story of the commission and his personal collaboration with the artist. To bring the story closer, Gollon used his own son as the model for Jesus and his daughter as Mary, and Fr Alan Green as Nicodemus. Gollon's Fourteen Stations of the Cross are site-specific and permanently installed. They are both an active aid to worship and also make the Church of St John on Bethnal Green a visitor attraction in East London.
In 2010, art historian Tamsin Pickeral
's book 'Chris Gollon: Humanity in Art' on Chris Gollon's life and work was published by Hyde & Hughes. It features 180 illustrations of his paintings, and tells the story of his life and work to 2010, including chapters on his Stations of the Cross and the Being Human series of paintings. The book is endorsed on the cover by Bill Bryson OBE, international author and Chancellor, Durham University.
In December 2010, Chris Gollon's paintings 'Jesus As the Man of Sorrows' and 'Mater Dolorosa' were shown in the exhibition 'Commission' at Wallspace gallery, London, a survey exhibition of the last 40 years of major religious commissions for public spaces, which included work by Henry Moore, Anthony Gormley, Chris Gollon and Tracey Emin. A book entitled 'Contemporary Art in British Churches', published by Art & Christianity Enquiry was published to accompany the exhibition.
In January 2011, the British Museum acquired 'Magdalene' an etching by Chris Gollon for its permanent collection. The work was also featured in Tamsin Pickeral's book 'Humanity in Art' (p.243). Chris Gollon is Artist in Residence at St Mary's College, Durham University, from April to June 2011. He is currently working on a series of paintings on the theme of Love.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
painter.
Gollon was born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He still lives near London, working in his studio in Surrey. He regularly exhibits in London at IAP Fine Art.
In 2000, Gollon gained a major commission from the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
for fourteen Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross refers to the depiction of the final hours of Jesus, and the devotion commemorating the Passion. The tradition as chapel devotion began with St...
paintings for a historic London church designed by Sir John Soane
John Soane
Sir John Soane, RA was an English architect who specialised in the Neo-Classical style. His architectural works are distinguished by their clean lines, massing of simple form, decisive detailing, careful proportions and skilful use of light sources...
. Gollon was a controversial choice, since he is not a practising Christian. In order to carry out the commission, and for theological matters, he agreed to collaborate with Fr Alan Green, Rector of St John on Bethnal Green.
In 2001, a special exhibition of his work was held at the River and Rowing Museum
River and Rowing Museum
The River and Rowing Museum in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England, is located on a site at Mill Meadows by the River Thames. It has three main themes represented by major permanent galleries, the non-tidal River Thames, the international sport of rowing and the local town of...
in Henley-on-Thames
Henley-on-Thames
Henley-on-Thames is a town and civil parish on the River Thames in South Oxfordshire, England, about 10 miles downstream and north-east from Reading, 10 miles upstream and west from Maidenhead...
because until 2005 Gollon had a connection with the river; having a studio on a private island in the Thames near Hampton Court. In 2001, the museum, aided by the Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
, acquired a major work by Gollon entitled Big Fish Eat Little Fish, a centrepiece of the exhibition.
His painting of the fourth Station of the Cross (Jesus meets his Mother) was exhibited in St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
in 2004. In the same year, he began painting images of Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
, before the 50th anniversary of Einstein's death in 2005 and before the centenary in 2005 of the General Theory of Relativity. Partially-inspired by a lyric in Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
's ballad 'Desolation Row
Desolation Row
"Desolation Row" is a 1965 song written and sung by Bob Dylan. It was recorded on August 4, 1965, and was released as the closing track of Dylan's sixth studio album, Highway 61 Revisited...
', Chris Gollon painted 'Einstein & The Jealous Monk'. This painting was subsequently purchased by the Huddersfield Art Gallery in West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, where it hangs in the museum's permanent collection alongside Sir Jacob Epstein
Jacob Epstein
Sir Jacob Epstein KBE was an American-born British sculptor who helped pioneer modern sculpture. He was born in the United States, and moved to Europe in 1902, becoming a British citizen in 1911. He often produced controversial works which challenged taboos on what was appropriate subject matter...
's bust of Einstein, and works by Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon (painter)
Francis Bacon , was an Irish-born British figurative painter known for his bold, austere, graphic and emotionally raw imagery. Bacon's painterly but abstract figures typically appear isolated in glass or steel geometrical cages set against flat, nondescript backgrounds...
and L.S. Lowry.
In 2007, Chris Gollon was commissioned to paint the Henley Regatta by Paul Mainds, Chief Executive & Trustee of the award-winning River & Rowing Museum. The museum's collection holds Raoul Dufy
Raoul Dufy
Raoul Dufy[p] was a French Fauvist painter. He developed a colorful, decorative style that became fashionable for designs of ceramics and textiles, as well as decorative schemes for public buildings. He is noted for scenes of open-air social events...
's painting 'Regatta at Henley'. Since the Henley Royal Regatta has no silver or bronze medals, only win or lose, Gollon decided to focus with great empathy on the losing crew. The final work entitled 'Gollon At Henley' was unveiled in 2008, and is now displayed along with works by Dufy, Piper and Trevelyan in the museum's permanent collection.
A chance meeting in 2005 between British artist Chris Gollon and film makers JABOD began a creative journey, leading to the creation of a neologism, and a new cinematic art work: Kaleidomorphism. Fifteen years of Gollon's paintings and imagery, together with music that he has selected (including Calexico and Paolo Conte), combine with JABOD's design, rhythm and effects to create a unique film installation of 20 minutes length.
In 2009, he was invited to become a Fellow and First Artist in Residence at the Institute of Advanced Study, Durham University, where he took part in the Being Human research project with some of the world's leading academic thinkers. He produced 16 paintings in 10 weeks on the Being Human theme, all of which are reproduced in the catalogue 'BEING HUMAN new paintings by Chris Gollon', published by Durham University.
Also in 2009, after nine years in the making, Gollon's epic series of paintings of the Fourteen Stations of the Cross were installed in the Church of St John on Bethnal Green in East London. They were blessed and by the Bishop of London, Richard Chartres in March 2009. In the same month British novelist Sara Maitland's book 'Stations of the Cross', wholly inspired by and featuring Gollon's paintings, was published (Continuum, London & New York). The book also contains a text by Fr Alan Green about the story of the commission and his personal collaboration with the artist. To bring the story closer, Gollon used his own son as the model for Jesus and his daughter as Mary, and Fr Alan Green as Nicodemus. Gollon's Fourteen Stations of the Cross are site-specific and permanently installed. They are both an active aid to worship and also make the Church of St John on Bethnal Green a visitor attraction in East London.
In 2010, art historian Tamsin Pickeral
Tamsin Pickeral
Tamsin Pickeral Tamsin Pickeral , b. 1971 is a British author and art historian, who is best known for her art books and her books on animals....
's book 'Chris Gollon: Humanity in Art' on Chris Gollon's life and work was published by Hyde & Hughes. It features 180 illustrations of his paintings, and tells the story of his life and work to 2010, including chapters on his Stations of the Cross and the Being Human series of paintings. The book is endorsed on the cover by Bill Bryson OBE, international author and Chancellor, Durham University.
In December 2010, Chris Gollon's paintings 'Jesus As the Man of Sorrows' and 'Mater Dolorosa' were shown in the exhibition 'Commission' at Wallspace gallery, London, a survey exhibition of the last 40 years of major religious commissions for public spaces, which included work by Henry Moore, Anthony Gormley, Chris Gollon and Tracey Emin. A book entitled 'Contemporary Art in British Churches', published by Art & Christianity Enquiry was published to accompany the exhibition.
In January 2011, the British Museum acquired 'Magdalene' an etching by Chris Gollon for its permanent collection. The work was also featured in Tamsin Pickeral's book 'Humanity in Art' (p.243). Chris Gollon is Artist in Residence at St Mary's College, Durham University, from April to June 2011. He is currently working on a series of paintings on the theme of Love.