Jo Hummel

Jo Hummel

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Degree: MA
University: Royal College of Art
Graduation Year: 2006

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Jo Hummel is a multi-disciplinary artist based in the Isle of the Wight. Hummel has exhibited worldwide over the last decade, in Cape Town, Venice, Barcelona, as well as in the UK - at the Royal Academy, and Saatchi Gallery. Her work experiments with space, form, and colour; combining a multitude of conceptual interests in these vibrant yet minimalist compositions. 

Viewing her work as a form of self-research, Hummel’s pieces serve as a projection of her intimate self, as well as an internalisation of the greater natural landscape. Her use of colour is reactionary and emotionally charged, and her proximity to the ocean defines her meditative and ritual creative process. Her work is an amalgamation of painting and collage with a specific focus on the use of paper. She values the sincerity of the medium as it exposes perceived flaws, is mutable and perfect for layering. Coming from a background in digital arts Hummel views this experimentation with paper as a type of ‘editing.’ In addition, her use of the material reflects her desire to forage from her domestic setting and local environment.

Ultimately Hummel's work is transcendent, it simultaneously grounds people and allows them to escape. This is embodied by the materiality of her work and how it serves as a passage into her own consciousness, but also as a portal to the wider world. 

Artist Statement

Using her native coastline as a starting point, Jo Hummel's work is characterised by a painted and paper collaged surface on which she employs spontaneous variations of space, colour and form.  

At first glance her work appears to be a physically-engaged, formal practice that is materially driven, however the context is purposefully anthropological. Many of Hummel’s works are informed by human habits and behaviour, with a particular interest in determinism and freewill.

The nature of collage is that each work is in constant flux.The artist must negotiate the canvas by rearranging, choosing and adjusting, often over long periods of time.

Working within the dependable environment of ritualistic systems and repetition, Hummel explores the unpredictable nature of intuition and spontaneity. The artist describes her practice as ‘a simulation of decision making experiences, governed by internal sensations (qualia) such as anxiety or serenity.’

Speaking about the making of the work, Hummel describes her chosen material (paper) as domestic and ephemeral. An everyday surface which is manipulated with urgency using household tools such as scissors and knives. Her paintings are built up in layers and with joinery, often revealing fissures and fault lines.

Jo lives and works on the Isle of Wight, UK, born 1982, Hampshire UK. Graduated Royal College of Art 2006. Since graduating Jo has exhibited extensively internationally. Solo and joint solo exhibitions include: Looking Out, Barnard Gallery Cape Town (2023) Love Letter, Gruin Gallery, Los Angeles (2022) A True Story, Nordic Art Agency, Malmo, Rock, Paper, Scissors, Fold Gallery London, Automatic, Victor Lope Gallery Barcelona (2021), Small is beautiful, Flowers Gallery, London (2021/22) Studio: Response 01 , Saatchi Gallery, London (2021) Simulation Paintings, After Nyne Gallery London (2021), Transformer I & II, And Gallery Edinburgh, and Nordic Art Agency Malmo Sweden (2019) Deep End Echo, Sid Motion Gallery, London (2018) Jerwood Drawing Prize, Jerwood Space, London (2012) Collections include Christian Dior Collection Paris.

Her work was featured in the Observer newspaper in an article titled 'Next Generation turns its back on Emin and Hirst’s conceptual artworks’ May 2011, and ‘Picking up a Picasso is one click away’ in the Times August 2013.

Solo Exhibitions

(2023) Somewhere Here, But Far Away, 45 Park Lane, London

(2023) Looking Out, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town

(2022) Joint Solo with Minh Dung Vu, Benjamin Eck Gallery, Munich

(2022) A True Story, Nordic Art Agency, Malmo

(2022) Love Letter, Joint Solo with Dana James, Gruin Gallery, Los Angeles

(2021) Be Gentle, Nordic Art Agency, Malmo

(2021) Simulation Paintings, After Nyne Gallery, London

(2021) Automatic, Victor Lope, Barcelona

(2019) Safety at Sea, After Nyne Gallery, London, UK

(2019) Transformer I, &Gallery, Edinburgh, UK

(2019) Transformer II, Nordic Art Agency, Malmo, Sweden

Group Exhibitions

(2024) Investec Cape Town Art Fair, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town

(2023) TEMPLATE, FOLD GALLERY, LONDON

(2023) SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL, FLOWERS GALLERY, LONDON

(2023) INVESTEC Cape Town ART FAIR, BARNARD GALLERY, Cape Town

(2023) Kilburn Collection, Norval Foundation, Cape Town

(2023) The Conran Shop, The cONRAN shop, Sloane Sq, London

(2022) Small is Beautiful,, Flowers Gallery, London

(2022) Studio: Response 01, Saatchi Gallery, London

(2021) Rock Paper Scissors, Fold Gallery, London

(2021) Post Painterly Now, Sugar Lift, New York

(2021) Small is Beautiful,, Flowers Gallery, London

(2020) Construct, Well Hung, London, UK

(2020) Dear Painting, Nordic Art Agency, Malmö, Sweden

(2019) Affordable Art Fair, After Nyne Gallery, London, UK

(2019) Affordable Art Fair, Nordic Art Agency, Stockholm, Sweden

(2019) Winter Exhibition, And Gallery, Edinburgh, UK

(2019) 2022, Jo Hummel Studio, The Ark, Bembridge, Isle of Wight

(2019) The Heroine’s Journey, Girl Boss Rally, Los Angeles, US

(2019) Curated, Amar Gallery, London, UK

(2019) London Art Fair 2019, After Nyne Gallery, London, UK

(2019) Unrestricted, And Gallery, Edinburgh, UK

(2019) Object Meditation curated by Tom Wilmott, After Nyne Gallery, London, UK

(2018) The Drawing Room, Sid Motion Gallery, London

(2018) The Other Art Fair, Brooklyn Expo Centre, New York

(2018) Affordable Art Fair Battersea, Liberty Gallery, London

(2018) Im In The Garden, Arts Council England, Isle of Wight

(2018) The Other Art Fair, Victoria House, London

(2018) Affordable Art Fair, Folly and Muse, Brussels

(2018) Womens March, Unlimited Gallery, Brighton

(2018) Art Republic Launch, Art Republic, Brighton

(2018) Eight from Nyne, 45 Park Lane, Curated by After Nyne Gallery and Ackerman Studios, London

(2018) Initial Sighting, And Gallery, Edinburgh

(2018) Girls just want to have fun, Unit 3 Projects, London

(2018) Deep End Echo, Sid Motion Gallery, London

(2018) The Abstract Show, Well Hung Gallery, London

(2017) Art Muc Art Fair, Folly and Muse, Munich Germany

(2017) Cardboard Castle, Arnolfini, Bristol

(2017) Turns on the Tarmac, Sid Motion Gallery, London

(2017) Integration, Saatchi Art Lounge, During Frieze Week, London

(2017) Accessible Art Fair, Bozar, Brussels

(2017) Affordable Art Fair Battersea, Folly and Muse, London

(2017) A Few of our Favourite Things,, Lotte Inche Gallery, York

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