The Artist
Jon Rowland
Jon Rowland is an architect, anthropologist, author and artist. He started painting some 25 years ago, first in oil and then in acrylics. His professional work took him to shanty towns around the world, where he had to ‘unlearn’ orthodoxy and consider a different approach. His early mentor was Ron Freeborn who introduced him to Venice, which provided him with opportunities for abstraction.
Much later Robin Child reinforced his abstract approach through ‘finding not making’ his paintings, basically letting the paint do the talking, and knowing where to stop. This chimed with the ‘unlearning’ approach, and his work became totally abstract.
“My aim is to bring these characteristics together as contemporary art that is grounded in ‘place’.”
Jon draws on locations that have played a part in his ‘artistic journey’, exploring space, light and colour, and it is this juxtaposition. He manipulates emerging abstraction to express the essence of a particular ‘place’.
“Painting is a journey. One starts at one space – the blank canvas – and hopefully ends at a resolution. Sometimes one gets lost, my aim in this journey is to create original contemporary art that is grounded in ‘place’. Sometimes the picture takes on a life of its own, often creating new challenges, Chance and opportunity are travelling companions, but the art is to know when the journey is complete.”
Jon is pleased to partner with Wychwood Art Gallery, selling contemporary art online.
If you like the images on my website and want to know more, please contact: [email protected]
Most Recent Exhibitions
Wolfson College
Wolfson College, Oxford 8th October 2023 to 9th December 2023Wolfson College in Oxford was the venue for an exhibition of recent paintings. The College Art Committee, aware of previous exhibitions, hosted ‘Ancient and Natural Spaces – a Personal Journey’. Some 25 recent paintings of 2023 were shown in this masterly designed college. I drew on complex built environments and natural scenery. The results were ancient spaces […]
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The Chelsea Art Show
Chelsea Old Town Hall 12th April 2024 to 17th April 2024The Chelsea Art Show at the Old Town Hall exhibited ‘Matador’ in 2024. This painting drew on Sickert and others to provide a dynamic interpretation of a Nimes event.
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Latest News
Here are some critiques and comments in the press of past exhibitions
Review and interview with Jon at the time of his exhibitions at Art in St Giles, Oxford and at Cornerstones Art Centre Gallery, Didcot. Reviews of Jon’s exhibition at the Sewell Centre Art Gallery 2016 Jon is one of six contemporary artists who have been chosen to be part of an exhibition on Capability […]
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