FTN-blog

Ian Tyson, a distinguished professor, painter, printmaker, and book artist, was born in Wallasey, Cheshire, England in 1933. Raised in Upton, outside of Birkenhead, Tyson spent his early years with his grandparents near Wigan during the tumultuous World War II. With graduation under his belt, he ventured into the shipyards as an apprentice engineer, but soon realized his true calling was in creating art independently. Eager to hone his craft, he pursued further studies at the prestigious Birkenhead School of Art and the renowned Royal Academy Schools in London.

Expanding his horizons, Tyson taught drawing and printmaking at the esteemed Farnham School of Art from 1959 to 1966, and the renowned St. Martin’s School of Art from 1964 to 1984. He also shared his knowledge as a visiting professor at the Royal College of Art, the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and the University of California at San Diego. He was also honored as a Brinkley Fellow at the esteemed Norwich School of Art in England.

In 1961, Tyson’s first solo show was displayed at the Ashgate Gallery in Farnham, and his exceptional talent was recognized with first prize at the Welsh Arts Council St. David’s exhibition in 1964. He has since exhibited in over fourteen solo shows and thirty group exhibitions all across Europe. His contributions to the book arts are commendable, encompassing graphics, design, publishing, and typography. To bridge contemporary art and literature, Tyson established the renowned Tetrad Press (1970-1995). His quest began with poetry, collaborating with numerous esteemed poets on multiple publications. The unparalleled Ian Tyson Collection at the revered British Library is the most extensive public collection of books pertaining to Tyson’s work in Europe. The Ian Tyson Collection at the University of California at San Diego also houses numerous production materials by Tyson and prominent poets.

www.ftn-books.com has now a fantastic Tyson print available.

I have worked in many varied fields within the arts for fifty years as a performer, teacher, theatre designer, prop maker, production and project advisor, gallery director and curator and workshop coordinator.

My life long interest in making from salvaged elements has its roots in post war Britain, a time of austerity and uncertainty. My parents were politically and socially conscious, northern working class people and highly creative. They acquired skills out of necessity.

I trained as a dancer at the Ballet Rambert School under Dame Marie Rambert, dancing with her company in the sixties and, later, performing for other companies in Europe.

In 1967 I married dancer-choreographer Christopher Bruce.

My visual art studies began in 1975. I was privileged to be tutored by Prunella Clough during my M.A degree in Printmaking at Wimbledon School of Art. Cutting and carving wood blocks lead me into carpentry and the three dimensional world eventually connected me with stage and costume design.

My practice is solitary and silent, similar in nature to the “Outsider” artists in its obsessive nature. Certain creators challenge and inform my making; their convictions sustain and support my intention to chart my own territory without constraint: they are, amongst others, Eva Hesse, Doris Salcedo, Michel Nedjar, Judith Scott, Miroslaw Balka, Louise Bourgeois and Ron Mueck.

Much of my visual art work has focused on the plight of the oppressed and the complex vulnerability of humanity, acknowledging the courage of damaged and desperate people in crisis worldwide.

Creative activity nurtures essential life enhancing attributes: curiosity, imagination, resourcefulness and independence – benefits which cannot be measured.

I invite a the viewer to engage, interpret and, hopefully, experience their own new perspectives.

www.ftn-books.com has now a relief print by Bruce for sale.

John Goodyear was an artist who was born in Los Angeles, California in the year 1930 and eventually settled in Grosse Ile, Michigan. He taught at the University of Michigan in Grand Rapids from 1956 to 1962. During this time, while painting his house, Goodyear conceived the idea of creating art in the third-dimension. This led to the creation of works that straddle the line between painting and sculpture, incorporating moving parts that invite the viewer to interact. In 1962, he was awarded a grant from the Graham Foundation, which allowed him to teach at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst for two years.

While at UMass, Goodyear prepared a collection of works for the grant, which would later become his first solo exhibition at the Amel Gallery in New York in 1964. These three-dimensional paintings featured suspended open grids with canvases adorned with patterns. These kinetic constructions quickly gained recognition from prestigious museums, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Albright-Knox Gallery in Buffalo, and the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, all in 1965. In 1966, Goodyear was featured in three separate exhibitions at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.

www.ftn-books.com has now a Godyear screen print for sale.

David Rubello’s art captures the marvel of human perception. Almost every piece he creates conveys his underlying theme, encapsulated in the title of one of his silkscreens: “Poetry of Space.” However, this notion is coupled with another concept, as seen in the title of a conceptual event he collaborated on with two other artists: “Paint, Space, and Energy.” The poetry within his space is dynamic, brimming with hermetic energy.

Each of Rubello’s paintings delves into the interplay between clear geometric planes and volumes within space. Viewers are often inclined to interpret these geometric shapes as “pictures” of three-dimensional sculptures. The poetry and energy within his compositions arise from the tension he creates between the potential three-dimensional existence and the optical illusions we perceive.

Furthermore, these compositions toy with “flippable” forms: geometric shapes that can be perceived in two distinct positions within space. Essentially, these figures can be seen as either advancing or receding. Due to our perspective processes, we cannot perceive these shapes as both simultaneously. Therefore, we must “flip” our perception between the two. Although we may be able to toggle between the two perspectives quickly, we can never see them simultaneously.

Through his masterful compositions, Rubello unlocks the gateway to a magical world of shapes and space, brought to life before our eyes. Immersing ourselves in his visual realm heightens our awareness of forms within space and rekindles our fascination with the processes of perception.

www.ftn-books.com has a mint Rubello screen print now available.

Elizabeth Willmott (1928­– ) is an artist, photographer, and writer. She is known for her written and visual contributions to The Structurist, an international art journal, and her painted relief artworks. Her art practice is rooted in Structurist theory and close observation of the natural world.

Structurism is a North American offshoot of Constructivism. Within this framework, Willmott is interested in creating artworks that are socially and politically engaged with the fundamental needs of our time. She achieves this by using her practice to merge nature and technology. Her painted relief works draw on their three-dimensionality to relate the artwork to the structures and processes of creation in the natural world. Overall, her work seeks to represent the structure and creativity of nature.

Willmott is a graduate of Oberlin College, Ohio. She also took courses in art and psychology at the Universities of Michigan and Saskatchewan. She spent much of her life living in Toronto, Ontario, where her husband, Donald Willmott, taught East Asian Studies at York University’s Glendon Campus. The couple now lives in Owen Sound, Ontario. Her work can be found in collections such as the University of Saskatchewan Art Collection, Saskatoon, and the Tom Thompson Art Gallery, Owen Sound, among others.

www.ftn-books.com has the BP collage now available.

Opy Zouni, the worldly renowned artist of Greek origin, was brought to the world in 1941, a Cairo native. Her roots stem from the mystifying regions of Crete and Santorini. In the bustling streets of Athens, she devoted her time and energy since the year 1963. Her sad demise occurred in 2008, leading to an irreplaceable loss in the world of art.

Opy Zouni’s pursuit of artistic excellence began in her hometown, when she enrolled in the esteemed Studio Zorian during the years 1959-1962. The artist delved into the realms of ceramics at the American College, nurtured her photography skills in Athens, and honed her painting expertise at the Athens School of Fine Arts under the tutelage of the renowned artist and professor, Yiannis Moralis. With more than 33 solo exhibitions and 37 group exhibitions to her credit, her masterpieces have been displayed in prestigious museums around the globe, as well as cherished in private collections.

The central theme that consumed her creative mind was the transition from two-dimensional art to three-dimensional art, a journey from confinement to liberation. Through the clever incorporation of geometric patterns, vibrant hues, and a touch of lyricism, she successfully captured the essence of light, shade, movement, and perspective. Her works transcend the vastness of space, accentuated by the conspicuous absence of human figures.

www.ftn-books.com has now a Zouni print from 1990 available ( mint condition).

The plastic researches of Claude Pasquer have long been referencing concrete art, with a consistent dedication to innovation.

In his contemplation of form and color, Claude Pasquer aligns himself with this tradition, where individual expression gives way to a system of rules and combinations, and the accidental nature of color, used to convey emotions, is replaced by the use of pure colors as the only substantial components capable of representing objective abstraction. Far from limiting the artist within the scope of their plastic work, the imposed framework of form and color, with its limited number, actually grants the freedom to explore a multitude of possible combinations and the rhythmic effects that result. Freed from subjectivity and the constant fluctuations of ego, Claude Pasquer is able to achieve a spiritual and universal dimension in their painting.

Claude Pasquer’s paintings, consistently precise and meticulous in their execution, are created with acrylic paint on a canvas that has been affixed to a wooden frame. Not only is the entire surface of the painting painted, but the edges, also known as the lateral borders of the panel, are also painted and therefore an integral part of the work, both in terms of the interplay of chromatic combinations and in its physical reality, adding a third dimension and projecting it into space.

www.ftn-books.com has a collage by Pasquer now available.

Tam Giles’ artistry delves into the enigmatic balance between two-dimensional and three-dimensional forms, captivating observers through her sculptural creations, color-field paintings, drawings, and serigraph prints. Drawing inspiration from the eccentric parallels within our surroundings, her work beautifully reflects the lyrical complexity of natural systems, the poetic intricacies of mathematical structures, and the amalgamation of color, form, space, and time.

With a remarkable career spanning over seventy years, Giles has borne witness to the ever-evolving landscape of art, constantly seeking to push the boundaries and explore new possibilities. Her art pays homage to various art movements such as Geometric Abstraction, Constructivism, and Minimalism, as she skillfully weaves them into her own unique vision.

Let her profound mastery of form and technique amaze and perplex, as she effortlessly balances enigmatic intricacy with fleeting dynamism in her creations. Immerse yourself in her realm of art, and witness the expressive power of her words and strokes, bringing to life a world of unlimited creativity.

www.ftn-books.com has a relief print by Giles now for sale.

John Carter is renowned for his abstract sculptures, lauded for their enigmatic complexity and linguistic dynamism. A unique blend of painting and sculpture, his art invites the viewer into an intricate dialogue between form and function. Utilizing a mathematical basis, Carter’s constructed “wall-objects” stand tall, capturing the imagination with their intricate design.

Born in Middlesex in 1942, Carter’s artistic journey began at the renowned Twickenham School of Art. Eager to expand his horizons, he then pursued his studies at the prestigious Kingston School of Art, perfecting his craft until 1963. A Leverhulme Travelling Scholarship then beckoned him to Italy, where he first began to experiment with abstract constructions at the revered British School at Rome. Upon his return to England, Carter was welcomed as an assistant to the acclaimed sculptor, Bryan Kneale. With unwavering determination, he worked towards his first solo exhibition at Redfern Gallery in London, earning critical acclaim in 1968.

His exceptional talent was soon recognized with not one, but two Arts Council Awards. As his career soared to new heights, a retrospective exhibition of his work was held at the esteemed Warwick Arts Trust in London, in 1983. The international show, Die Ecke, at Galerie Hoffmann in Friedberg, Germany, marked Carter’s first encounter with European concrete and constructive artists. This further propelled his success, as he continued to exhibit extensively in Europe, Japan, and the USA.

Carter’s passion for art was not limited to his works, as he shared his knowledge and expertise as a teacher at the prestigious Chelsea College of Art and Design. His enthusiasm for sculpting continued even after his retirement from the post in 1999. Currently residing and creating in London, Carter’s remarkable talent was honored with a solo exhibition at the Royal Academy in 2013, titled John Carter RA: Between Dimensions. With an unmistakable devotion to cultivating perplexity and burstiness, his art continues to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide.

www.ftn-books.com has a beautiful Carter print now available.

Born in the bustling city of London in 1959, the esteemed Matthew Tyson has spent his life honing his craft in the captivating region of south east France.

His formative years were spent studying at prominent institutions such as St Martin’s School of Art and Goldsmith’s College, both located in the vibrant city of London. Throughout his illustrious career, Tyson’s works have been acquired by numerous distinguished public and private collections, cementing his place as a renowned figure in the world of art.

His repertoire also includes a plethora of public art commissions, the most notable being a monumental project of 17 intricate stained glass windows crafted between the years of 2001 and 2007. Erected in the resplendent Saint Pierre Cathedral situated in the rustic commune of St Claude in the Jura region, this exquisite creation was commissioned by the esteemed French Ministry of Culture.

In addition to his achievements, Tyson has also been privileged to serve as an artist in residence at the prestigious Birmingham City Museum and Art Galleries. In 2007, he was bestowed with the honor of being a residency fellow at the renowned Edward Albee Foundation in the picturesque town of Montauk, located in New York.

A globally recognized figure, Tyson has imparted his knowledge and expertise in numerous educational institutions, both in Europe and the United States. For a decade, from 2009 until 2019, he had the privilege of teaching at the distinguished Université Jean Monnet in St Etienne.

Armed with a masterful command of the English language and an unwavering dedication to his craft, Tyson’s work showcases a blend of perplexity and vibrancy, setting him apart from his contemporaries. With a keen eye for elegance, he artfully interweaves a diverse range of vivid vocabulary, imbuing his compositions with a distinct and captivating essence. Let the resulting output speak for itself, as the true essence of enigmatic complexity and linguistic dynamism is brought to life with each stroke of his brush.

www.ftn-books.com has agreat print from the 80’s by Tyson available.