John Atkin
Born 1959, Darlington, Co Durham, UK
Currently lives and works in London
Education
1982-1985
Royal College of Art, MA, Sculpture
1978-1981
Leicester Polytechnic, BA (Hons), Painting, 1st Class Degree
Awards
2004
Sculpture by the Sea, Sydney. Invited Artist
(Key speaker at Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney Australia)
EMAAR International Sculpture Symposium, Dubai, U.A.E.
2002
AHRB, Small Grants in the Creative and Performing Arts, UK
2001
British Council. Awards To Artists. USA
2000
'Research Award', LUSAD, Loughborough University
1999
'Research Award', LUSAD, Loughborough University
1995
'Research Award', Royal College of Art, London
1995
'Research Award', LUSAD, Loughborough University
1995
British Council Travel Award, Germany
1990
GA L LE R I ES
l S Y DNE Y
British Council Travel Award. Australia
1990
Australia Council Award for Residency + Exhibitions
1998
'The Elephant Trust', Australia
1985
'Drawing Prize', Royal College of Art, London, UK
1983
'Travel Award', Henry Moore Foundation: Visited Ed Kienholz, Berlin Studios
1981
'Major Award', Northern Arts, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Artist in Residence / Scholarships
2004
From Another Dimension-Works on Paper, in conversation with Dan Piersol, NOMA, New
Orleans, USA
1995
Summer Studio Program, Bantam CT, USA
1993
Jam Factory Gallery, Adelaide, Australia
1990
Victoria College, Melbourne, Australia
1989
Connecticut Artists Studio program, Bantam, Connecticut, USA
1988
Mildura Arts Centre, Victoria, Australia
1987
Grizedale Forest, Cumbria, UK
1985
Stanley Picker Fellowship, Kingston University, London, UK
1982
Three year Scholarship. MA Sculpture, RCA, Henry Moore Foundation.
Solo Exhibitions
2003
The Navigator, Drawings & Sculptures, Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich, UK
John Atkin and Mark Arctander, Crown Center Gallery, Chicago, Ill. USA
2002
Reivers - Sculptures & Drawings, Kouros Gallery, New York, USA.
Scorched Earth - Drawings and Sculptures, Philadelphia Art Alliance, Philadelphia PA, USA
2001
Pendulum Reliefs, Paesaggio Gallery, Hartford KT, USA
The Made and the Unmade, Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art, Kansas City Missouri, USA
2000
The Made and the Unmade, Hemmingway Gallery, Boise, Idaho, USA
Scorched Earth, Sylvia Schmidt Contemporary Art, New Orleans, LA, USA
Pendulum Reliefs, Danna Center, Loyola University, New Orleans, LA, USA
Cut, Made and Unmade, Real Gallery, New York, NY, USA
1999
Pendulum Reliefs, Alpha Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Cut, Shillam & Smith 3, London
Distant Voices, Davis Gallery, Wellfleet, Massachusetts, USA
Distant Voices, Grayson Gallery, Woodstock, Vermont, USA
1998
Taub Hall Gallery, Hartford University, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
1996
North Shore, Harriet Green Gallery, Soho, London
1995
Interfacing, Atkinson Gallery, Millfield, Street, Somerset, UK
Recent Work, Chelsea && Westminster Hospital Arts Project, London
Embers, DLI Gallery, Durham, UK
1994
Embers, Crossley Gallery, Dean Clough, Halifax, UK
1992
Recent Work, Myles Meehan Gallery, Darlington Arts Centre, UK
1991
Recent Work, Middlesbrough Art Gallery, Cleveland, UK
1990
Sculpture, Jam Factory Gallery, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
1989
Sculpture & Drawings, Heide Park & Art Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
Sculpture & Drawings, Rex Irwin Gallery, Sydney, Australia
1986
Recent Work, Juda Rowan Gallery, London
Sculpture, Stanley Picker Fellowship Exhibition, Kingston University, London
1985
Strange Meeting, Hatton Gallery, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
MA (Sculpture) Degree Show, Royal College of Art, London
Selected Group Exhibitions
2004
Sculpture by the Sea, Sydney, Australia
Sculpture Inside, Sydney, Australia
EMAAR International Sculpture Symposium, Dubai, U.A.E.
From Another Dimension-Works on Paper by Sculptors, NOMA, New Orleans, USA
2003
London Art Fair, (Berkeley Square Gallery), London, UK
Inform, Dean Clough Galleries, Halifax, UK
2002
Thinking Big: Concepts for 21st century British sculpture, Guggenheim Museum, Venice, Italy
New Concepts, Sculpture at Goodwood, Goodwood, UK
2001
Maquettes, Sculpture at Goodwood, Goodwood, UK
The Armoury Art Fair, Alpha Gallery, New York
2000
Summer Show, Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MO
Drawings, Hartwick Art School, New York
Chicago Art Fair, Alpha Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Encounters, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
1999
Abstraction 2 to 3, Cleveland State University Art Gallery, Cleveland, USA
Rentree, Stanley Picker Gallery, Kingston Upon Thames, London
New Work, Monogramma, Rome, Italy
1997
Cities 97, London Docklands, London
In Transit-In Residence, Stanley Picker Gallery, Kingston Upon Thames, London
1995
The Loughborough Group, Atrium Gallery, London
The Loughborough Group, Economist Plaza, London
1994
The Loughborough Group, Bede Gallery, Jesmond, Newcastle, UK
The Loughborough Group, Bond Gallery, Birmingham, UK
1993
Open Crossing, BBK, Dusseldorf, Germany
1992
Sculpture at Canterbury, KIAD, Canterbury, Kent, UK
1991
Sculpture at Canterbury, KIAD, Canterbury, Kent, UK
1990
Group Show, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Bretton, UK
National Garden Festival, Gateshead, Newcastle, UK
1989
Picker Fellows, Watermans Arts Centre, London
1988
10th Sculpture Triennial, Mildura, Victoria, Australia
1987
Basle Art Fair, (selected artist), Basle, Switzerland
Reivers, Mach, Atkin, McCann, City gallery, London
Hackney Artists Drawings, City Gallery, London
Athena Awards, Barbican Art Center, London
1986
Recent British Sculpture, Exchange Square, Hong Kong
1985
The Eighties, Juda Rowan Gallery, London
1984
Sculpture Works, Gulbenkien Gallery, RCA, London
Sculptors Drawings, Ruskin Gallery, Oxford, UK
Commissions
2004
The Klansman, Burgh Dubai, Dubai, U.A.E.
Dal Fab Fabbro's Chariot, Beetham Tower, Liverpool, UK
2003
The Signaler, The Rushes, Loughborough, UK
The Navigator, Orwell Riverside Development, Ipswich, UK
2002
Railway Rumble, Great Eastern Hotel, Liverpool Street, London, UK
1998
Six Abstract Paintings, Untitled, Brindleyplace plc, Birmingham, UK
1996
Brindleyplace plc, Birmingham, UK
1991
The Outsider, Carrick Hill, Adelaide, Australia
1989
The Watcher, Hartlepool Marina Development, Cleveland, UK
1988
Iron Rations, Mildura Sculpture Triennial, Australia
Watchman, Tsukaba Expo 85, Japan
Mies van der Rohe, KIUK, London (sculpture in bronze)
Mies van der Rohe, KIUK, Paris (drawing)
Bibliography
2003
Daniel Smith, "Salute to The Rushes" Loughborough Echo 24th Ocober
"Pointing to the future", The Echo, 31st Ocober
Darren Beck, "Big Day", Leicester Mercury, 27th October
Romeike, "Pride of Place", Leicester Mercury, 22nd October
Tim Fargher, "John Atkin", Galleries, May Issue 241 ISSN 0265-7511
Cheryl Markosky, "A Massive Remodelling Job", The Independent, 4th June
Sutherland Lyall, "Under the Weather", The Architects Journal, 9-770003 846080
Sonia Carvill, "Maritime Art on the Waterfront", East Anglian Daily Times, 21st May
Amanda Cresswell, "What is it?", Evening Star, 16th May
"The Navigator", Navigation News, ISSN 0268 6317
Thomas Krens, "Thinking Big - Concepts for Twenty First Century British Sculpture", catalogue
introduction, Sculpture at Goodwood, Goodwood, West Sussex, UK
Tim Marlowe, "Thinking Big", catalogue essay, Sculpture at Goodwood, Goodwood, West
Sussex, UK
2002
Roberta Fallon, "On Again, Off Again" Review of Scorched Earth at Philadelphia Art Alliance,
Philadelphia Weekly
2000
Marian McLellan, "Scorched Earth" Review of Scorched Earth Drawings at Sylvia Schmidt
Gallery, New Orleans Art Review
Bookhardt, "On The Walls" Review of Scorched Earth Drawings at Sylvia Schmidt Gallery,
Gambit Weekly, New Orleans
"Gt. Eastern Hotel" Review of commission work for Conran Hotel, The Architects Journal,
London.
"The Gt. Eastern Look", The Sunday Times, London
Robert Smith, "Distant Voices", Davis Gallery,MA, Art New England
1999
C. Yannopoulos, "Say It With Feeling", Review of Abstraction 2 to 3, Cleveland State University
Art Gallery, Ohio, Cleveland Scene
Maria Floyd, "Review of Abstraction 2 to 3", Cleveland Ohio
Steven Litt, "Abstraction is Alive and Well" Review of Abstraction 2 to 3, Cleveland State
University Art Gallery, Ohio, Plain Dealer Art Critic
"Cubist Assemblages" Review of Distant Voices, Grayson Gallery, Vermont, Rutland Daily Herald
"Out of the Crucible - An exhibition of bronze sculpture", catalogue, Loughborough University
1997
Mel Gooding, "In Residence, In Transit. Inaugural Exhibition", Stanley Picker Gallery
1996
Peter Wheeler, John Atkin, "Sculpture at Buddon Wood" Catalogue, Sponsored by Redland
Aggregates, Quorn, Leicestershire, UK
1995
Peter Wheeler, "John Atkin - Embers", Northan Arts, DLI Gallery Durham, UK
"Turning a load of rubbish into Art", Review of Embers, DLI Gallery, The Northern Echo, Durham,
UK
"Hang It, That’s Art!" Review of Embers, DLI Gallery, Northern Notebook, Durham, UK
1994
The Loughborough Group. Forward by Philomena Davidson Davis, President of Royal Society of
British Sculptors, Essay by Peter Wheeler. Published 1994
1993
"Open Crossing", Group exhibition BBK, The British Council, Kent Institute of Art & Design,
Kulturamt der Stadt Dusseldorf
Kunst Kurier, "Zeitscrift Fur Kunst und Kultur" Open Crossing, Neue Arbeiten Vom, Kent Institute
of Art & Design, HH-U. Priefert
1991
William Varley and Maudie Palmer, "John Atkin, Recent Work", Published by Northern Arts, The
Arts Centre Darlington, Middlesbrough Borough Council.
W.E. Johnson, "7 Days" Review of 3 person exhibition, John Atkin, Frank Auerbach, Victor
Pasmore, at Middlesbrough Art Gallery
Carrick Hill, "The Artful Garden" Adelaide, South Australia. Publication guide of works in the
collection. Published by Foundation South Australia
1990
Norris Ioannou, "Giving form to the debris of contemporary society" Review of Sculpture at The
Jam Factory Gallery, Adelaide, Australia
Art in Australia. Special edition concentrating on War Art
"Talkback", Guest host radio program, interview with Maudie Palmer, MOMA @ Heide, Geoffrey
Edwards, Curator National gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Frances Lindsay, Monash University
Frank McBride, "John Atkin - Sculpture", catalogue essay, The Jam Factory Gallery, Adelaide,
Australia
John Neylon, "The Sinister Side" . Review of Sculpture at The Jam Factory Gallery, Adelaide,
Australia, The Adelaide Review
"The National Garden Festival, Gateshead", Publication based on national group exhibition of
contemporary outdoor sculpture.
"Horror of Obelisk", The Watcher, Grays Art Gallery, Hartlepool Mail
1989
Maria Prerauer, "A young sculptor who’s always had a bit Moore" Review of exhibition, Sculpture
and Drawings at Heide Park and Art Gallery, The Australian, National broad-sheet newspaper
Elwyn Lynn, "Sculpture to focus eye and mind", Review of Sculpture and Drawings at Rex Irwin
Art Dealer, Sydney, The Weekend Australian, National broad-sheet newspaper
Anna Murdoch, "A Struggle For Sculpture" Profile of artist and forthcoming exhibition at Heide
Park & Art Gallery, Melbourne, The Age September
"John Atkin, Sculpture and Works on Paper", Catalogue essay by Maudie Palmer, Director,
MOMA @ Heide, Melbourne Victoria. Published by the Australia Council
"UK Art Show", Review of exhibition at Heide Park & Art Gallery, Melbourne, Doncaster and
Templestowe News
Jenny Zimmer, "Atkin wrapped-up in distress", Review of exhibition at Heide Park & Art Gallery,
The Sunday Herald
"A Sense of Place", Grizedale Forest, Cumbria. Arts Council documentary for Channel 4 TV.
Produced by Maggie Ellis
Bill Varley, "Grizedale Forest Sculpture", The Guardian
"An Image of War", Profile of John Atkin working in Kendal, Cumbria. Westmoreland Gazzette
Mary Rose Beaumont, "Picker Fellows at Kingston", The Stanley Picker Trust, Watermans,
Kingston Polytechnic
"The Watcher wants a Marina look-in". Tabloid Newspaper, Star Series, Hartlepool
"Memorial to men of steel", Letters page, The Mail, Hartlepool
Steve Hilton "Criticised sculpture gets official unveiling", The Northern Echo, Darlington
"The Watcher going on view. Large scale public sculpture for Hartlepool marina development,
Cleveland", Northern Echo, regional broadsheet
"Head will keep watch", Letters page, The Mail, Hartlepool
"What on earth", The Mail, Hartlepool
1988
"John Atkin", Mildura Sculpture Triennial Exhibition. Vic, Australia. Australian local TV. Interview
and profile of the artist and works in the exhibition.
"Sphynx on the move to Australia", Profile of new sculpture by John Atkin made at Kendal Studio
Potteries, Kendal, The Westmoreland Gazette
Ray Watson, "A head for business", Expamet Products Journal
1987
Andrew Graham Dixon, "Fender Bender" Review of 3-man show at City Artists Gallery, London.
The Independent
1986
"John Atkin-Strange Meeting" BBC TV documentary profile, first screened in 1986, repeated in
1987, 1988, 1989. National coverage. 10 mins duration.
Hans Peter Adamski, John Atkin. Profile of new artists at Basle, Switzerland. Publication. Other
artists featured, Beuys, Boltanski, Baselitz, Basquiat, Barcelo.
"Six of the best", Review of group show at Exchange Square, Hartlepool. King, Nash, Kenney,
Caro, Hall, Atkin. Hong Kong Standard
Nigel Rosser, "Sculpture Beyond Moore", Review of exhibition at Exchange Square, Hong Kong.
Phillip King, David Nash, Mike Kenny and John Atkin. South China Morning Post
Waldemar Januszczak, "Three Decades of Contemporary Art, The Eighties", Catalogue essay,
Juda Rowan Gallery, London
Patricia Bickers, "Twenty Five Years at Juda Rowan", Review of survey exhibition, Arts Monthly
1985
"John Atkin - Strange Meeting", BBC Radio Newcastle. Interview relating to exhibition at the
Hatton Gallery
Kate Bailey "Father, son and the haunting ghost of an earlier life…" Profile of John Atkin, The
Northern Echo
Mike Neville "Interview with John Atkin - Sculptor", Hatton Gallery, BBC Look North
William Varley, "John Atkin" Hatton Gallery, Newcastle Upon Tyne, The Guardian
"Interview - John Atkin" Profile of the artist, Courtesy of Juda Rowan Gallery, Café-Crème
Magazine, Paris
Sara Selwood, "Strange Meeting" Hatton Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne. Publication / Poster.
Waldemar Januszczak, "The Hare that Leaps from Summer", The Guardian, Selected review of
Sculpture RCA Degree Shows