British Council − Art Collection − Artist

Highlights

See all British Council Collection works (150)

8 VARIATIONS ON THE NAME OF JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, LA GRANDE FONTAINE,FIRST INTERVAL STUDIES

1 work is part of the Mabey Collection

Tom Phillips was born in South London and studied at St Catherine's College, Oxford and later at Camberwell College of Arts, where the painter Frank Auerbach was then teaching. Phillips was elected a Royal Academician in 1989. His observations, reading and reflection are as wide as the imagery he derives from them. He is meticulous in his art and his research, analysing and delving into a subject in the most rigorous way, yet he has an abiding concern for chance procedures which enrich and vitalise his work. He uses music and literature to create new forms visually, as well as composing music and film making (he collaborated with Peter Greenaway in a production of Dante's Inferno). He uses collage techniques, in addition to painting, drawing and printmaking. As an avid collector he has a particular interest in African art. As a portrait painter Phillips requires lengthy sittings; the painting of the portrait of Charles Saumarez-Smith was documented on film by British television Channel 4 in 2004.

www.tomphillips.co.uk
www.royalacademy.org.uk

Glossary (4)

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Collage
The two-dimensional form of assemblage made by affixing paper, card, photographs, fabric and other objects to a flat surface. It is often combined with painting and drawing techniques. This technique was first introduced by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque in 1912 during their phase of synthetic cubism.
Drawing
The depiction of shapes and forms on a flat surface chiefly by means of lines although colour and shading may also be included. Materials most commonly used are pencil, ink, crayon, charcoal, chalk and pastel, although other materials, including paint, can be used in combination.
Film
A transparent, flexible plastic material, usually of cellulose acetate or polyester, on which light-sensitive emulsion is coated, or on which an image can be formed by various transfer processes.
Painting
Work of art made with paint on a surface. Often the surface, also called a support, is a tightly stretched piece of canvas, paper or a wooden panel. Painting involves a wide range of techniques and materials, along with the artist's intellectual concerns effecting the content of a work.

See profile in the Venice Biennale site

Work Themes (6)

Portfolios (3)

Past exhibitions

TOM PHILLIPS

1994
- USA, New Haven, Yale Center For British Art
1992
- UK, London, Royal Academy Of Arts

BRITISH ARTISTS' PRINTS 1972-1977

1989
- Iraq, Baghdad, Baghdad
- Bahrain, Manama, National Museum
- Egypt, Cairo, Cairo
- Morocco, Rabat, Rabat
1988
- United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi
- Qatar, Doha, Doha
- Jordan, Amman, Amman
1983
- Canada, Toronto
1982
- Zimbabwe, Harare, Harare
1980
- South Africa, Pretoria, British Council Office - Pretoria
1979
- Finland, Helsinki, Helsinki
- France, Paris, British Council Office
- Greece, Athens, Athens
1978
- Italy, Rome, Rome
- Spain, Madrid, Madrid
1977
- Norway, Frederikstad

CONTEMPORARY BRITISH DRAWINGS 1961-1975

1989
- Thailand, Chiangmai University Gallery
- Thailand, Bangkok, Chulalongkorn University Art Centre
1988
- Singapore, National Museum Art Gallery
1983
- Australia, Australia
1978
- Germany, West Germany
1976
- Colombia, Colombia
- Argentina, Buenos Aires, British Council Office - Buenos Aires
1975
- Brazil, Brazil

TOM PHILLIPS' GRAPHICS

1989
- Greece, British Council Office - Cyprus
- Greece, Greece Tour
1988
- Iraq, Iraq
1987
- Chile, Chile
1986
- Ecuador, Ecuador
- Colombia, Colombia
1984
- Spain, Zamora, Casa De La Cultura
- Spain, Vigo, Cajas De Ahorros
- Spain, Leon, Caja De Ahorros
- Spain, Mostoles, Centro Cultural Joan Miro
1979
- France, France

1979 SAO PAULO BIENAL - CRATYLUS

1980
- Brazil, Brasilia, Funarte Gallery
1979
- Brazil, Sao Paulo, Museu De Arte Moderna
- Argentina, Buenos Aires, British Council Office - Buenos Aires

FIGURATION AND FANTASY

1980
- Greece, British Council Office - Cyprus
1978
- Germany, West Germany
1977
- Netherlands, Netherlands
1974
- France, France

RECENT BRITISH ART

1979
- Portugal, Oporto, Centro De Arte Contemporanea, Museo Nacional De Soares Dos Reis
1978
- Portugal, Lisbon, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
- Finland, Glogalleriet
- Finland, Helsinki, Kluuvi Galleria
- Norway, Bergen, Kunstforeningen
- Denmark, Aalborg, Kunstmuseum Nordjyllands
- Norway, Trondheim, Kunstforening
- Norway, Oslo, Kinstnernes Hus
- Sweden, Goteborg, Konstmuseum, Konsthallen
- Poland, Lodz, Museum Sztuki
1977
- Poland, Wroclaw, National Museum
- Iran, Tehran, Exhibition Hall, Tehran University
- Poland, Krakow, Museum Narodowe
- Austria, Innsbruck, Galerie Him
- Austria, Vienna, Wiener Secession
- Yugoslavia, Belgrade, Museum Of Contemporary Art
- Yugoslavia, Skopje, Museum Of Contemporary Art
1976
- Greece, Athens, The National Gallery
- Slovenia, Ljubljana, Moderna Galerija
- Yugoslavia, Belgrade, Museum Of Contemporary Art