Pop artist
Allen Jones (British, b. 1937) was born in Southampton, England, and is most well known for his paintings and sculptures. Between 1955 and 1960, he studied at Hornsey College of Art and the Royal College of Art, London, UK. Among his fellow students were
David Hockney (British, b.1937) and
R. B. Kitaj (American, 1932–2007). Later, Jones taught at various universities in Berlin and Hamburg. Since 1986, he has been a member of the Royal Academy of Arts in London.
Jones‘s early works often contained subtle sexual innuendo, revealing an interest in the physical relationship between men and women, and the balance between male and female power. In his later works, Jones created life-size sculptures, during which time, his interest in the female nude reached its peak. He deals with topics such as BDSM and sexual fetishism, while at the same time glorifying and satirizing male preferences. His most famous works are his sculptures of female characters depicted in sexually explicit poses, which double as furniture, including tables, chairs, and coat racks. Jones‘s body of work also includes numerous large-scale sculptures, which can be seen in public spaces.
His works have been presented in major museums and exhibitions worldwide, including the Museum Ludwig in Cologne, the Museo Reina Sofia in Madrid, and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.