Bed:  that cotton cocoon into which we crawl, to be free, to dream or to face nightmares.

Beds have appeared in art for millennia; Egyptian kings entertained in gold ones, artists draped naked ladies over them in paintings, John and Yoko photographed themselves in bed in a stance for peace and Tracy Emin shocked the establishment by displaying hers in a gallery. Take away all the romance from them and we’re left with the messy evidence of ourselves.  

Jo explores these aspects that occupy so much of our time and evidences them in her drawing. Inspecting the conscious construction of ‘bed’, then the deconstruction of it once we vacate, she creates human landscapes of comfort and disturbance.

114 x 90 cm graphite on Arches 300gsm, mounted on fine stretched linen.

world closin’ in ..
news arrivin’ ..
life’s in the bin ..
are we survivin’ ..
when ya want to ..
I will be onto ..
maybe in here divin’ ..
into worlds not gone to ..
does it matter ..
try to thrive in ..
sleep may come ..
they will be done.

65 x 90 cm graphite and powdered pigment on Il Torchio paper

33 x 26 x 7 cm marble carving

50 x 70 cm coloured pencil on Fabriano 100%cotton

50 x 70 cm graphite on Fabriano 100%cotton

70 x 56 cm graphite stick on Fabriano 100% cotton paper

65 x 76 cm graphite and powdered pigment on Arches paper

65 x 90 cm graphite and powdered pigment on Il Torchio paper

65 x 90 cm graphite and powdered pigment on Il Torchio paper

ea 65 x 90 cm, float mounted in white frame

20” x 20” oil on canvas

56 x 76 cm pigment and charcoal on Arches 300gsm

56 x 76 cm pigment and charcoal on Arches 300gsm

79 x 110 cm, graphite on paper

76 x 51 cm graphite and conte on Arches Aquarelle 300gsm

photograph, unique digital print on cotton rag.

120 x 76 cm, letterpress and graphite on Hahnemuhle