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John Melville Biography
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John Melville was born in London but moved to Birmingham in his youth. He attended classes at the Birmingham College of Art but in effect was self-taught, and begun to paint full time towards the 1920s, spending most of his time in the Cotswolds until the early 1930s.
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His early paintings show a strong Cubist influence. In the early 1930s, he became a convert to Surrealism, and remained more or less faithful to surrealist ideas for the rest of his life. A member of the Birmingham Group in the 1930’s, he joined the Surrealist Group in 1938. Shortly afterwards, just before the onset of World War II, Melville published a series of pieces in the Surrealist publication London Bulletin, but a clear move towards painted portraits and still life was evident during the war.
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His first one-man show was held in 1932 at the Crescent Theatre, Birmingham; followed by an exhibition at the Wertheim Gallery, London - one of the most progressive avant-garde galleries around at the time.
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The Post War years brought about a change in his work, he turned more to conventional modernism. In the 1960s he reverted to Surrealism again adding a strong element of expressionism. He was working almost in total isolation towards the end of his life.
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| Selected Exhibitions |
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2006
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John Melville: A 'Marvellous' English Artist - A Personal Journey to Surrealism and Beyond, The Millinery Works Art Gallery, London (solo)
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2000
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Surrealism in Birmingham, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
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1999
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From the Unconscious to the Irreverent, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York
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1996
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Retrospective, Westbourne Gallery 62, London (solo)
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1987
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Memorial Exhibition, Gothick Dream Fine Art (solo)
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1986
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Retrospective, Blond Fine Art, London (solo)
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1986
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British Surrealism 50 Years On, Mayor Gallery, London
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1986
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Surrealism in Britain, touring exhibition
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1986
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Angels of Anarchy and Machines for Making Clouds, Leeds City Art Gallery
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1985
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A Salute to British Surrealism, 1930 - 1950 which toured The Minories, Colchester; Blond Fine Art, London; The Ferens Hall Art Gallery, Hull
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1982
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Les Enfants d’Alice, La Peinture Surrealiste 1930 - 1960 en Angleterre, Galarie 1900-2000, Paris
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1978
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Dada and Surrealism Reviewed, Hayward Gallery, London
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1974
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Ikon Gallery, Birmingham
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1971
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Hamet Gallery, London
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1969
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Birmingham University, Birmingham (solo)
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1967
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R.B.S.A Galleries, Birmingham (solo)
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1955
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Zwemmer Gallery, London; New English Art Club, R.B.A Galleries, London
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1951
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Hanover Gallery, London (solo)
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1949
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The Birmingham Artists Committee Invitation Exhibition Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Galleries and then Bilston Corporation Art Gallery
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1945
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Four Birmingham Artists, Birmingham City Art Gallery
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1942
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Renzios 2nd Surrealist Exhibition
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1940
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Surrealist Exhibition, Zwemmer Gallery, London
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1939
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London Gallery, London
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1938
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Realism and Surrealism, Gloucester
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1933
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Twenties Group Exhibition, Wertheim Gallery, London
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1932
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Crescent Theatre, Birmingham (solo)
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1932
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Wertheim Gallery, London (solo)
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1930
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Modern English Watercolour Society, St George's Gallery, London
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