Jo Hummel's work is distinguished by a painted and paper-collaged surface, upon which she employs spontaneous variations of space, colour, and form. Reductionism underpins her work, particularly evident in symbols, symmetry, and repetition.
Speaking about the making of the work, Hummel describes her chosen material (paper) as domestic and ephemeral, an everyday surface manipulated urgently with household tools such as scissors and knives. Her paintings are constructed in layers and with joinery, often revealing fissures and fault lines. Colour assumes a pivotal role, valued both for its subjective sensory impact and its psychologically transcending qualities.
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 spontaneity and intuition.
Inspired by philosophical concepts such as qualia and valence, the making of each piece serves as a passage into the realm of subjective experience. For Jo, the action of collage painting functions as a psychologically exploratory activity, in which conscious intentions and decisions regarding the formal aspects of the work may yield artifacts upon which unconscious influences can be made.
The resultant artworks invite the viewer to meditate on the intricate dance between deterministic forces and the liberating power of choice, whilst also prompting questions about the mysterious nature of consciousness.
Jo works from her studio in Isle of Wight, UK
Jo Hummel b. 1982, Hampshire UK. Graduated Royal College of Art 2006. Since graduating Jo has exhibited extensively internationally. Solo and joint exhibitions include:Template, Fold gallery London, 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, and Kilburn collection, Cape Tow.
Jo is represented by galleries in Europe and South Africa and her works have been collected extensively in public and private collections worldwide.
Selected Press:
Observer, ‘Next Generation turns its back on Emin and Hirst’s conceptual artworks’ by Vanessa Thorpe, May (2011)
Times, ‘Picking up a Picasso is one click away’ By Mark Bridge, August (2012)
Mail online, Femail, Want to make a healthy return as an aspiring art investor? by Andrew Bullock, December (2018)
