Profile
John Garbutt
2022
mailto:jsgarbutt5@gmail.com
I am no more or less political than the next person but I think we all have to acknowledge that there is no such thing as “art for arts sake”, all art is politically engaged, it can’t be anything else.
I am a figurative artist, and as soon as a figure is introduced into a work it opens a narrative. It can’t be avoided, consequently I try to give my narratives a sense of “social concern”.
Most figurative artists now follow the path of gestural expressionism, but I am more interested in creating expression through the process of defining and manipulating Space. For me, as an artist, Space is the most expressive element at our disposal. A shape simply defines the boundaries of space, volume is a means of measuring space. Space can be negative or positive, expansive or limiting, real or illusory.
Apparently my work tends to generate feelings of detachment, unease, isolation and alienation. This sits well with me, I think that aptly describes the current Zeitgeist.
It has never been my intention to communicate anything in particular with anyone, including myself. The only time I know a piece works for me is when a quality eventually emerges which I can identify/recollect without quite knowing what it is. A sense of having been there before, a kind of deja vou
However my sole purpose is to present ideas, I don’t offer solutions or opinions, there are no answers.
Selected Exhibitions
2023 Royal Academy of Art, Summer Exhibition
2022 Royal West Academy Annual Open Exhibition, Bristol
2022 Penwith Society of Artists Summer exhibition, St Ives, Cornwall
2022 Wells Contemporary 2022, Wells cathedral, Somerset
2022 Green and Stone Summer Exhibition, Fulham Road, Chelsea, London
2021 Penwith Gallery, St Ives, Cornwall
2021 South West Academy Open, Kennaway House, Sidmouth, Devon
2020 Penwith Gallery , St Ives, Cornwall
2019 “Imagine”, Falmouth Art Gallery, Cornwall
2019 Penwith Gallery , St Ives, Cornwall
2018 Penwith gallery, St Ives, Cornwall
2016 “Expression of the Human Form” Weston Park, Staffordshire
2016 “Expression of the Human Form” RBSA gallery, Birmingham
2016 “Prize” RBSA galleries, Birmingham
2013 “Drawn”, Royal West Academy, Bristol
2012 Open West Exhibition, Gloucester Cathedral
2004 Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Art, London
1996 Mid-Art, Himley Hall, Dudley, West Midlands
1996 John Garbutt & Gus Cummings, N.K.R. Gallery, Chelsea, London
1996 “After Eden”, Touring Exhibition of Outdoor Sculpture organised by the
Ikon Gallery, Birmingham
1995 Himley Hall Sculpture Trail, Dudley, West Midlands
1990 Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Art, London
1988 The Day Book Traveling Exhibition
1988 Merz Contemporary Art, London
1987 Smith Gallery, Covent Garden, London
1995 Himley Hall Sculpture Trail, Dudley, West Midlands
1990 Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Art, London
1988 The Day Book Traveling Exhibition
1988 Merz Contemporary Art, London
1987 Smith Gallery, Covent Garden, London
1984 Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Art, London
1983 The Mall Gallery, London
1983 Cork Street Fine Art, London
1982 Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Art, London
1980 Midland View Traveling Exhibition
Solo Exhibitions
Nov1997-Jan1998 One Person Show, Three consecutive monthly exhibitions in the Installation Gallery, Wolverhampton Art Gallery.
1997 One Person Show, Foyer Gallery, Wolverhampton University
1996 One Person Show, ‘Carvings’, Chelsea Arts Club, London
1992 One Person Show, Kim Thrower Galerie, Auberterre, Charante, France
1991 One Person Show, Eagle Gallery, Islington, London
1990 One Person Show, House of the Peoples Art, Museum of History, Leningrad, Soviet Union.
1990 One Person Show, Sadlers Wells Theatre, London
1989 One Person Show, Merz Contemporary Art, London
1989 One Person Show, Hampstead Theatre, London
2016 Sculpture prize, “Prize” RBSA gallery, Birmingham
1980 Associated Television Award, Midland View Travelling Exhibition
1976 E.J.Thompson Trust Award, Mid-Art, Dudley Art Gallery, West Midlands
2009 Bushbury Triangle Mural, Regeneration and Renewal department, City of Wolverhampton Council
2008 Ceramic sculpture, East Park Community Sculpture, City of Wolverhampton
2007 Welded steel sculpture, Harron Homes, Powell Street housing development, Wolverhampton. Percent for the Arts.
2005-2007 3 lifesize bronze sculptures, Barratt West Midlands, Tudor Park housing development Wolverhampton. Percent for the Arts.
1997 Welded steel sculpture. The Belle-Vue Sculpture Trail, Wordsley, West Midlands.
1995 Stone carving. Sir Alan and Lady Cox of Gwent
1994 Stone carving. Sir Alan and Lady Cox of Gwent
1990 Artist in Residence, Leningrad Academy of Art, Leningrad, Soviet Union
1986 Artist in Residence, Staffordshire Agricultural College, West Midlands
