Jo Chapman MRSS

Jo would describe her practice as a mixture of social sculpture and an investigation into public and private space. She is passionate about creating work that brings art outside to give a sense of wonder and beauty to everyday life.

Originally studying embroidery at Birmingham City University Jo's practice has encompassed a range of formats; stitch, drawing, printmaking, text, sculpture and temporary, installation-based works. As the work grew in scale, she wanted it to have more permanence and began undertaking commissions for public space, more recently large-scale sculptures. The materials and scale have varied for the individual projects however a preoccupation with the use of line and detail remains a constant.

Jo’s visual language draws from diverse influences, she does not try to create a particular style but to be responsive and to continue to find new ways of working, the ideas drive the work. The artworks will often reference the history of their locations and the people. She sees her role as offering a unique approach to solving problems and bringing high quality art to spaces outside of galleries, injecting some beauty and a sense of curiosity into our everyday lives. In addition to public works she also makes experimental drawings and smaller sculptures which continue to inform and inspire the commissions.

Jo has more than 20 years’ experience of delivering public art projects and has extensive experience of working with communities to engage them in the public art process, through leading creative workshops, interactive events and focus groups. She develops projects from concept design through to planning, fabrication and installation.

She divides her time between Suffolk, UK and Normandy, France