Born in New Zealand and now living in Australia, Locust Jones works have been primarily influenced by his travels and close attention and concern to current world political issues.
Through his works on paper, Jones challenges and delves into issues of contemporary politics. His style of commentary can be said to tackle the big picture head on, addressing issues of epic proportions, interspersing imagery from the media, newspapers, television and the internet, as well as personal experiences of current political situations in the world. Whether it be climate change, war in Iraq, ghosts of tortured forests or the greed of the global Financial industry.
With an animated and expressive energy he compulsively draws in ink, arranging on large-scale panoramic sheets of paper and in universal proportions his papiermâché globes, text-based imagery, expressive, scrawled drawings of haunted and tortured faces and gestures morph with tall foreboding buildings and the rubble and confusion of war torn cities. Events unfold, a story is told, as Jones compellingly vents his confusion and anxiety about the state of the world.
Locust Jones exhibits throughout New Zealand and Australia, and has had solo exhibitions in New York, Germany, and Lebanon. He has participated in artists residencies in Lebanon, Beirut and New York. He is the winner of the Hazelhurst works on paper award in 2009 and the Dominik Mersch Gallery Award 2010. He has works held in numerous public and private collections throughout New Zealand and Australia. Jones has been awarded the Blake Prize Finalist (2020), Dobell Drawing Prize Finalist (2019), Wynne Prize Exhibition Finalist, Art Gallery of NSW (2016), Australia Council for the Arts New Work Grant (2014), 18th Street Art Centre Residency, Santa Monica CA (2014), and the National Contemporary Art Award Winner, New Zealand (2010).
The viewing room is regularly updated, featuring the latest additions. If you are looking for something in particular please call the gallery on +61 2 9368 1999.
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