Jonathon Coleman
Encyclopedia
Jonathon Robert Coleman (born 1970 in Holt, Norfolk
) is an English
artist and sculptor.
and Art History
at Goldsmith's College, University of London
, graduating in 1991. During this period of study he earned his Certificate in Anatomy
and Human Dissection
(First Class) at the Slade School of Art. His work predominantly explores form, line and shape within the subject matter of figurative nudes with most of his inspiration coming from the female form. Following this in 1992 he worked at the Royal Academy of Art in London studying the mechanics of this institution from Press Office, Exhibitions Office and Merchandising.
It was here that he met Sir Eduardo Paolozzi and Dame Elizabeth Frink, both of whom became a great inspiration for him. Coleman went to work with Lis Frink at her studio in Blandford Forum on her figure of the Liverpool Christ. He then moved to Norfolk to study at the Norwich School of Art and completed his Master of Art Degree
in 1994 with an exhibition called 'Prime' where he developed his figurative theme, moving towards the male form with an exhibition entitled 'Standing Man'. These figures confronted the notions of the classical male figure
as hero, athlete and warrior, and replacing them with the honesty of the standing man.
Later he moved towards teaching and established a sculpture department at Cranleigh School
and the John Lyon School
, and finally at St Paul's Girls' School
, London. He taught drawing workshops at the Norwich School of Art and the University of Kent
in Canterbury.
Coleman works from his studio in London with private and public commissions. Jonathon Coleman Fine Art was established in 2007 and his work ranges from large sculptural steel pieces for projects in Knightsbridge, London to private commissions in Hampstead, and abroad in the USA (San Francisco and Florida).
in London.
Classical meets contemporary
with the recent work of Jonathon Coleman. The subject is figurative
with a strong 1940s influence and reminds the viewer of the Lalique glass work and these stylised lines to define the form. He works with clay, plaster and jesmonite to create figurative frieze
s for use with architectural spaces. These friezes combine the narrative classical elements of the Parthenon
in their storytelling with a contemporary use of loose lines and fluid shapes reminiscent of Matisse and Modigliani
.
Holt, Norfolk
Holt is a market town and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The town is north of the city of Norwich, west of Cromer and east of King's Lynn. The town is on the route of the A148 King's Lynn to Cromer road. The nearest railway station is in the town of Sheringham where access to the...
) is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
artist and sculptor.
Career
Coleman studied Fine ArtFine art
Fine art or the fine arts encompass art forms developed primarily for aesthetics and/or concept rather than practical application. Art is often a synonym for fine art, as employed in the term "art gallery"....
and Art History
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
at Goldsmith's College, University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, graduating in 1991. During this period of study he earned his Certificate in Anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
and Human Dissection
Dissection
Dissection is usually the process of disassembling and observing something to determine its internal structure and as an aid to discerning the functions and relationships of its components....
(First Class) at the Slade School of Art. His work predominantly explores form, line and shape within the subject matter of figurative nudes with most of his inspiration coming from the female form. Following this in 1992 he worked at the Royal Academy of Art in London studying the mechanics of this institution from Press Office, Exhibitions Office and Merchandising.
It was here that he met Sir Eduardo Paolozzi and Dame Elizabeth Frink, both of whom became a great inspiration for him. Coleman went to work with Lis Frink at her studio in Blandford Forum on her figure of the Liverpool Christ. He then moved to Norfolk to study at the Norwich School of Art and completed his Master of Art Degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in 1994 with an exhibition called 'Prime' where he developed his figurative theme, moving towards the male form with an exhibition entitled 'Standing Man'. These figures confronted the notions of the classical male figure
Ancient Greek sculpture
Ancient Greek sculpture is the sculpture of Ancient Greece. Modern scholarship identifies three major stages. They were used to depict the battles, mythology, and rulers of the land known as Ancient Greece.-Geometric:...
as hero, athlete and warrior, and replacing them with the honesty of the standing man.
Later he moved towards teaching and established a sculpture department at Cranleigh School
Cranleigh School
Cranleigh School is an independent English boarding school in the village of Cranleigh, Surrey. It was founded in 1865 as a boys' school and started to admit girls in the early 1970s. It is now co-educational. The current headmaster is Guy de W...
and the John Lyon School
John Lyon School
The John Lyon School is an academically selective independent boys' school in Harrow on the Hill, Middlesex. The school was founded in 1876 by the Governors of Harrow School for the education of local boys, in belated keeping with the wishes of that school's founder, from whom the school takes its...
, and finally at St Paul's Girls' School
St Paul's Girls' School
St Paul's Girls' School is a senior independent school, located in Brook Green, Hammersmith, in West London, England.-History:In 1904 a new day school for girls was established by the trustees of the Dean Colet Foundation , which had run St Paul's School for boys since the sixteenth century...
, London. He taught drawing workshops at the Norwich School of Art and the University of Kent
University of Kent
The University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...
in Canterbury.
Coleman works from his studio in London with private and public commissions. Jonathon Coleman Fine Art was established in 2007 and his work ranges from large sculptural steel pieces for projects in Knightsbridge, London to private commissions in Hampstead, and abroad in the USA (San Francisco and Florida).
Sculpture
Coleman's plaster bas relief sculpture, 'Eve & Eve 2009', was recently commissioned by the Groucho ClubGroucho Club
The Groucho Club is a well-known private social club located at Dean Street in Soho, London. Its members are mostly drawn from the media, entertainment, arts and fashion industries....
in London.
Classical meets contemporary
Contemporary art
Contemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time or art produced since World War II. The definition of the word contemporary would support the first view, but museums of contemporary art commonly define their collections as consisting of art produced...
with the recent work of Jonathon Coleman. The subject is figurative
Figurative art
Figurative art, sometimes written as figurativism, describes artwork—particularly paintings and sculptures—which are clearly derived from real object sources, and are therefore by definition representational.-Definition:...
with a strong 1940s influence and reminds the viewer of the Lalique glass work and these stylised lines to define the form. He works with clay, plaster and jesmonite to create figurative frieze
Frieze
thumb|267px|Frieze of the [[Tower of the Winds]], AthensIn architecture the frieze is the wide central section part of an entablature and may be plain in the Ionic or Doric order, or decorated with bas-reliefs. Even when neither columns nor pilasters are expressed, on an astylar wall it lies upon...
s for use with architectural spaces. These friezes combine the narrative classical elements of the Parthenon
Parthenon
The Parthenon is a temple on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their virgin patron. Its construction began in 447 BC when the Athenian Empire was at the height of its power. It was completed in 438 BC, although...
in their storytelling with a contemporary use of loose lines and fluid shapes reminiscent of Matisse and Modigliani
Amedeo Modigliani
Amedeo Clemente Modigliani was an Italian painter and sculptor who worked mainly in France. Primarily a figurative artist, he became known for paintings and sculptures in a modern style characterized by mask-like faces and elongation of form...
.
Painting
Paintings exhibited in 2007 at the Stephanie Hoppen Gallery, Knightsbridge, London were concerned with narrative friezes and employed the use of strong line and bold shape within the figurative theme of the female nude. Colour was reduced mainly to earth tones to reveal a stronger linear use of the canvas.Biography
- 'Prime' Exhibition catalogue 1994 - Norwich School of Art publication
- 'Jonathon Coleman-Dance Line' Catalogue - Stephanie Hoppen Gallery