Art2Muse

Jim Howson was born in England, into an artistic family with many generations of potters and painters. The exposure to art and sculpture has been a prominent part of his life. Jim’s father a potter and two brothers’ successful painters – this environment inspired him to pursue his interest in sculpture and design. After leaving school, he combined a successful career in farming while experimenting with art in his spare time. Jim only recently consolidated his passion to sculpt after retiring from farming in 2006.

Over the years Jim’s direction shifted from sculptural furniture to creating elegant forms predominantly using steel. “ I have always been intrigued by the qualities of steel from its organic beginnings to its ultimate precise and structural form.” A competent welder with an interest in engineering, machinery and its component parts has in part influenced the form and shape of his work. However his main influence has been nature itself. From a very early age Jim has had an appreciation and understanding of nature. “There are so many natural forms around us, by absorbing all those fantastic shapes, images are formed and created spontaneously. It is difficult to work out where one shape finishes and another begins.”

The main focus in Jim’s work has been to emphasize the rawness of steel and its ability to be created into flowing shapes and forms. The sculptures are characterized by ordered harmonious, even musical lines that exude motion. The forms are predictable yet chaotic giving the pieces life. Jim’s work is a unique blend of three dimensional and skeletal appearance that draws out the essential qualities of steel producing an effect of changeable rhythms and free movement which is reinforced from different viewpoints. The steel loses its coldness and solidness when transformed. “Creating pieces using steel is totally exhilarating. Although an image is in your mind, each bend or twist of steel, changes that original image. You have an image evolving again in your mind yet a solid piece is evolving right in front of you.”

Upcoming Exhibition:

Art Melbourne 2012

Awards & Prizes

2009 First Prize` Germination ‘ - Melbourne International Flower Show
2008 Second Prize Andor Meszaros Award - ` Eye of the storm ‘

Selected Competitions

2010 Finalist – Toorak Village Sculpture Exhibition, Toorak, Vic
Finalist – Tesselaar Sculpture Prize, Silvan, Vic
Finalist – Sculpture in the Vineyard, Koonwarra, Vic
2009 Finalist – Tesselaar Sculpture Prize, Silvan, Vic
Finalist – Toorak Village Sculpture Exhibition, Toorak, Vic
2008 Finalist – Sculpture in the Vineyard, Wollombi Valley, NSW
Finalist – Toorak Village Sculpture Exhibition, Toorak, Vic
Finalist – Moreland Sculpture Prize, Coburg, Melbourne
Finalist – Wangaratta Current Sculpture Award, Wangaratta, Vic

Selected Group Exhibitions

2010 ` Nature ‘ Herring Island Summer Arts Festival, Melb
Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show
ART Red hill Red Hill, Victoria
ASV Annual Little Factory Gallery Eltham, Vic
Earth Sea Air Greenwood Gallery Sth Melbourne
2009 ` ART Red Hill ‘ Red Hill, Victoria
` Sculpture on the stream ‘ Herring Island Summer Arts Festival
ASV Annual Sculpture Exhibition, Manningham Gallery, Melb
Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show
` Artanica ‘ Mount Macedon, Victoria
2008 ASV Annual Sculpture Exhibition, Montsalvat, Eltham, Vic
Art 2 Muse, Tom Dunne Gallery, Darlinghurst, Sydney
ArtMelbourne 08
ArtSydney 08
` Artanica ‘ Mount Macedon, Victoria
2007 ArtMelbourne 07
ArtSydney 07
`Bonanza’ CSA Annual, Yarra Sculpture Gallery, Melb
2006 `Beach Christmas Exhibition, Bolin Bolin Gallery, Vic
`Bonanza’ CSA Annual, Yarra Sculpture Gallery, Melb

Solo Exhibitions

2010 `Growth is a Journey’ Leura Park Estate, Bellarine Peninsula, Vic
2007 `A Relationship with Nature’ Brunswick Street Gallery, Melb

Private Collections

2010 Ash Wednesday – 210x80x70cm
Seed # 1 – 67x34x20 cm
Leaf Series – 210x90x75 cm
2009 Germination – 110x100x65 cm
Opposites Attract – 310x80x80 cm
2008 Solar Flare – 65x50x50 cm
Drought #2 – 250x80x80 cm
Spring Growth – 210x110x75 cm
Drought #1 – 210x80x80 cm
Autumn – 110x125x70 cm
2007 Leaf #1 – 110x70x45 cm
Bird of Paradise – 180x80x65 cm
Conoid – 140x50x50 cm
Fossil on a Wall – 120x90x20 cm
Fish Frenzy
Fossil – 300x180x45 cm

Private Commissions

2010 `Flaxbourne’ 85x70 70 cm – Moriac, Victoria
2009 `Summer’ 210x80x80 cm – Melbourne
2008 `Fish’ 220x70x70 cm – Kennett River, Victoria
2006 `Steel Angel’ 300x150x70 – Kongwak, Victoria
`Aloof’ 180x80x60 cm – Inverloch, Victoria

Commissions available

Contact Katrina Hampton 0424809849 / +61 2 9697 3299