John Bolam
Encyclopedia
John Bolam is generally rated as one of Britain’s lesser post war artists.
, Buckinghamshire. He originally studied painting at Hornsey School of Art and furniture design at High Wycombe School of Art. He subsequently became a member of the Great Bardfield group of artists
(named after the village
in Essex where many of the members settled). Close friends and colleagues from that time included Michael Rotherstein, Edward Bawden
, John Aldridge
and Edward Middleditch
. From 1970 to 1983 Bolam was Head of the School of Art at Cambridge College of Arts and Technology.
and Graham Sutherland
, but his imagery subsequently evolved independently. Bolam was also strongly influenced by French artists such as Braque and Degas as well as the English landscape, especially the Chilterns.
Exhibitions of Bolam’s work have been held at AIA Galleries, Whitechapel Art Gallery, Arts Council Gallery, the Leicester Galleries and the New Art Centre (where he held a one man show).
The major public collection of John Bolam’s work is held at the Fry Art Gallery
, Saffron Walden
but his work also features in many important private art collections including those of Rank Xerox
, Barclays Bank and Touche Ross.
Background
John Bolam was born in 1922 in AmershamAmersham
Amersham is a market town and civil parish within Chiltern district in Buckinghamshire, England, 27 miles north west of London, in the Chiltern Hills. It is part of the London commuter belt....
, Buckinghamshire. He originally studied painting at Hornsey School of Art and furniture design at High Wycombe School of Art. He subsequently became a member of the Great Bardfield group of artists
Great Bardfield Artists
The Great Bardfield Artists were a community of artists who lived in Great Bardfield, a village in north west Essex, England, during the middle years of the 20th century....
(named after the village
Great Bardfield
Great Bardfield is a large village in Essex, England.The Great Lodge at Bardfield is a Grade II listed building, which built in the 16th century and was given to Anne of Cleves by Henry VIII as one of several properties as part of a generous settlement for an amicable divorce. The grounds include...
in Essex where many of the members settled). Close friends and colleagues from that time included Michael Rotherstein, Edward Bawden
Edward Bawden
Edward Bawden, CBE, RA was a British painter, illustrator and graphic artist. He was also famous for his prints, book covers, posters, and garden metalwork furniture...
, John Aldridge
John Aldridge
John William Aldridge is a former Republic of Ireland international footballer and football manager...
and Edward Middleditch
Edward Middleditch
Edward Middleditch , was an English artist.He was born in Chelmsford, Essex. From 1949–52 he attended Royal College of Art, where his teachers were Ruskin Spear, Carel Weight and John Minton. His fellow students included Derrick Greaves and Jack Smith. Middleditch associated early on with the...
. From 1970 to 1983 Bolam was Head of the School of Art at Cambridge College of Arts and Technology.
Work
John Bolam is seen by many as following in the path of the neo-Romantics, most notably John PiperJohn Piper (artist)
John Egerton Christmas Piper, CH was a 20th-century English painter and printmaker. For much of his life he lived at Fawley Bottom in Buckinghamshire, near Henley-on-Thames.-Life:...
and Graham Sutherland
Graham Sutherland
Graham Vivien Sutherland OM was an English artist.-Early life:He was born in Streatham, attending Homefield Preparatory School, Sutton. He was then educated at Epsom College, Surrey before going up to Goldsmiths, University of London...
, but his imagery subsequently evolved independently. Bolam was also strongly influenced by French artists such as Braque and Degas as well as the English landscape, especially the Chilterns.
Exhibitions of Bolam’s work have been held at AIA Galleries, Whitechapel Art Gallery, Arts Council Gallery, the Leicester Galleries and the New Art Centre (where he held a one man show).
The major public collection of John Bolam’s work is held at the Fry Art Gallery
Fry Art Gallery
The Fry Art Gallery is an art gallery located in Saffron Walden, Essex, England. In its present form the gallery was established in 1985 and it is managed by the Fry Art Gallery Society...
, Saffron Walden
Saffron Walden
Saffron Walden is a medium-sized market town in the Uttlesford district of Essex, England. It is located north of Bishop's Stortford, south of Cambridge and approx north of London...
but his work also features in many important private art collections including those of Rank Xerox
Rank Xerox
Rank Xerox was formed in 1956 as a joint venture between the Xerox Corporation of U.S. and the Rank Organisation of UK, to manufacture and market Xerox equipment initially in Europe and later in Africa and Asia...
, Barclays Bank and Touche Ross.