Jon Groom

"Painting is a journey to simplify the complexity of existence.” (Jon Groom)

Jon Groom was born in Wales in 1953, studied Art from 1971-1978 culminating in a Master of Fine Arts Degree awarded by the Chelsea School of Art. He then traveled to America on a Boise Scholarship from the University of London. Since 1978 Groom’s work has been exhibited extensively around the world, including London, New York, Munich, Mexico City and Milan. In 1994 a major survey of Groom’s work was shown in the Städtische Galerie Lenbachhaus, Munich. In 1997 Groom exhibited in the Luis Barragan Museum in Mexico City. Recently Groom showed large-scale paintings at Ludwig Museum Koblenz and this year his work was included in an exhibition in London at Osborne Samuel entitled Masterpieces of Modern British Art: Selected works from the Derek Williams Trust and National Museum of Wales.
Since 1988 Groom has maintained a studio in Munich, Germany. He has lived for periods of time in New York and Italy and until recently spent much of each year in Wales, UK. For the last five years Groom has worked and traveled extensively in India.

“Painting creates a space, the artist works to give that space meaning, to fill it with unspoken silence which can go beyond our understanding into the realm of profundity.” (Jon Groom)

Groom’s work can be divided into three practices: the paintings, the watercolors and the wall works (wall paintings and large-scale multiple aquarelle paperworks).
By constantly referring to a reduced vocabulary and its repetition Grooms work can be compared to a Mandala or Mantra, seeking to clarify our visual world. “It is essential to make art which is deeply significant and which speaks directly to our souls. The visual aspects of geometry as discussed in Plato, the complexity of color and their symbioses must lead to an art work which is like food for the soul.

“Jon Groom’s works bare evidence of this constant confrontation with painting, nature, and reflections on existence and beauty. They allow participation in the purifications that the artist himself undergoes, in the firm resolve to perfect himself and not to be content with a – possibly false – truth, but to confer validity on thoughts and views beyond his own subjectivity.” (Reifenscheid, Beate, The Transmission of Color, Jon Groom - Between the Light, Prestel Verlag, 2006)

Born 1953 in Powys, Wales. Lives and works in Munich and in Bernried / Starnberger See.

Education and Promotions

1971-72

Cardiff College of Art

1972-73

Sheffield Polytechnic

1974-76

Cardiff College of Art (Bachelor of Arts)

1976-77

Chelsea School of Art London, Prof. Ian Stephenson (Master of Arts)

1977-78

Fellow of Painting Scholarship, Gloucesterhire College of Art & Design, Cheltenham

1978-79

Boise Travel Scholarship, University of London, USA

1987

Artist in Residence Kulturreferat Munich, Villa Waldberta, Feldafing/Munich

1990

Artist in Residence Arts Council of Great Britain, Usher Art Gallery and Lincoln Cathedral

1997-98

Artist in Residence Casa Museo Luis Barragán, Tacubaya, Mexico City

1998

Artist in Residence Nordland Kunst- und Film School, Kabelvåg Lofoten, Norway

2003

Artist in Residence Guernsey College, Channel Islands, GB


Wallpaintings and Installations

2005

THE OUTVERSION PAINTINGS, Degussa Bank AG, Frankfurt

2004

JON GROOM & STEVEN SCOTT INSTALLATION, Art Frankfurt/Galerie König, Hanau/Frankfurt

2003

PAINTINGS FOR GENERAL ELECTRIC, HQ, Munich
WALLPAINTING BLUE IN BLUE, Roemer Company, Munich

2001

ROOMPAINTINGS GOLD IN GOLD, HypoVereinsbank, Fünf Höfe, Munich

2000

PAINTINGS FOR EM.TV & MERCHANDISING AG, Munich

1999

FIVE PART PAINTING, RED IN YELLOW GREEN, Gerling Konzern, Dusseldorf

1998

VERTICAL RED IN BLUE - HORIZONTAL RED IN BLUE, TWO PART WALLPAINTING, Treppenhaus Nordland Kunst- und Film School, Kabelvåg, Lofoten, Norway

1997

AXIS WALLPAINTING, TWO WALLS, ONE CEILING, Uniplan International HQ, Kerpen/Cologne (cat.)
STUTTGART WALLDRAWINGS, Gerling Konzern, Stuttgart
IRON PYRITE AND IVORY BLACK WALLPAINTING, Zentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte, Munich

1996

COPPER WALLPAINTING: D. LEGLER HOUSE, Herzogstr., Munich
WALLPAINTING BECKER HOUSE, Cologne

1995

1:1 WALLPAINTINGS AND WALLDRAWINGS, International Artists, Initiative Münchner Galerien für zeitgenössische Kunst, Künstlerwerkstatt Lothringer Str., Munich (cat.)
THE BAYERNWERKE WALLPAINTING, Bayernwerke AG, Isar, Finsing/Munich

1994

ARENA WALLPAINTINGS (SIX WALLS), Stiftung für konkrete Kunst, Reutlingen
LAS FOSSES WALLPAINTINGS, The Garden of Las Fosses, Aquitanien
ELEVEN COLUMNS FOR TRAUNSTEIN HOSPITAL, Traunstein

1990

EVIDENCE - LINCOLN CATHEDRAL, Lincoln, GB (cat.)

1989

INSTALLATION PAINTING FOR JET INTERIOR, Chemical Bank, New York

1983

FIVE SIDED FIGURE, FLOORPAINTING AND LIGHT INSTALLATION, collaboration with Rosemary Bitcher Dance Company & Jim Fulkerson, Dance Umbrella Festival, Riverside Studios, London, Theater Spazio Zero, Rome

1982

BIRD GOT TO FLY, FISH GOT TO SWIM, Arts Council of Great Britain, Oriel Gallery, Cardiff

1981SHELL, FORCE-FIELDS AND SPACES, Rosemary Butcher Dance Company, Riverside Studios, London
SALUTATION WALLPAINTING, Riverside Studios, London
1978

NEW-ARC - NEW JERSEY, Henry Steven Law Office, Newark, New Jersey, USA


Print Editions

2003

SIX LITHOGRAPHS IN AN EDITION OF THIRTY, published by Jon Groom & Ira Bartell, Cologne

1995

UNTITLED (CADMIUM LEMON, LAMP BLACK), edition of Thirty Screenprints, published by edition x, Verlag Gernot von Pape, Munich, printed at Ekkeland Gotz, Munich

1994

MAN AND THE SEA SHELL, Text by Paul Valéry, Artist's Book, Twenty-one Lithographs, published by edition x, Verlag Gernot von Pape, Munich, printed at Karl Imhof, Munich

1993

BETWEEN LIGHT AND DARK, Ten Aquatints in an edition of Twelve with Two Artist's Proofs, published by edition x, Verlag Gernot von Pape, Munich, printed at Thomas Sebening, Munich

1989

AVATAR SERIES AND PASSAGE SERIES, Seventy-seven Monotypes, Garner Tullis Print Studio, Santa Barbara, California

1988

AVA AVIO, Lithografien published by Wassermann edition e, printed at Karl Imhof, Munich


Public Collections

Arts Council of Great Britain, London
Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, Munich
Bayerische Vereinsbank, Munich
Castle Museum, Norwich
Chase Manhattan Bank, New York
Chemical Bank, London und New York
Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio
Congress Park Hanau
Contemporary Arts Society, London
Degussa Bank, Frankfurt
Deutsche Bank, Frankfurt
EM.TV & Merchandising AG, Munich
General Electric, Germany
Gerling Konzern, Cologne and Stuttgart
HypoVereinsbank, Munich
Kunstforening Trondheim, Norway
Lindner AG, Germany
MoMA Museum of Modern Art, New York
Mcloy, Milbank, Tweed, New York City
National Museum of Wales, Cardiff
Philadelphia Art Museum, Philadelphia
Postbank, Munich
Prudential Insurance Company, New York
NM Rothschild & Sons (C.I.) Limited
Städtische Galerie, Ingolstadt
Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, Munich
Städtische Kunsthalle, Mannheim
Stiftung für Konkrete Kunst, Reutlingen
Uniplan International, Kerpen/Cologne
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Solo exhibitions

2022Mats Bergquist - Jon Groom : MIGRATORY BIRD, Galerie Nanna Preußners, Hamburg
2017ANGLES OF INTENT, Galerie Nanna Preußners, Hamburg (with Jo Schöpfer)
2016

I AM THAT, The Silver Paintings, 2015-2016, Lorenzelli Arte, Milan

2015

SANDOKAI PAINTINGS, Galerie Nanna Preußners, Hamburg

2011

IN PRAISE OF SHADOWS, Schaltwerk Kunst Galerie Nanna Preußners, Hamburg

2010

Galleri Weinberger, Copenhagen (cat.)

2009

A LUMINOUS NIGHT'S JOURNEY, Städtisches Museum Engen (cat.)

2008

Galerie Felix Ringel, Dusseldorf
Neue Galerie Landshut (with Rupert Eder)
ALL IS NOT LOST, Schaltwerk Kunst, Hamburg (now: Galerie Nanna Preußners)

2006BETWEEN THE LIGHT, Ludwig Museum Koblenz (cat.)
SOTTO LA LUCE, Lorenzelli Arte, Milan (cat.)
2005

PAINTING REVEALS, NEW PAINTINGS AND WATERCOLOURS, Kath. Akademie in Bayern, Munich
CHAWAN AND TOKONOMA PAINTINGS, Galerie König, Hanau/Frankfurt

2004

Galerie 422, Gmunden (with Sean Scully, cat.)
NEW PAINTINGS, Paal Kunst & Konzept, Karl & Faber Auktionshaus, Munich
PAINTINGS, Galerie König, Hanau/Frankfurt

2003

WHEN MATERIAL BECOMES LIGHT, Guernsey College of Art & Design, Gallery, Channel Islands, GB (cat.)
PAINTINGS & WATERCOLOURS, Galerie Zellermayer, Berlin

2000

NEW PAINTINGS AND INSTALLATION, Galerie Paal, Munich (cat.)

1999

REFERENCE PAINTINGS 1999, Lorenzelli Arte, Milan (cat.)
REFLEX PAINTINGS, Galerie Paal, Munich
NEW PAINTINGS, Baukunst-Galerie, Cologne

1998

PAINTINGS, PRINTS AND STANDING PAINTINGS, Emporio Armani Gallery, Place du Grand Salon, Brussels (curated by Taché/Lévy)

1997

WORKS FROM 1981 TO 1997, Villa Waldberta, Feldafing/Munich
PAINTINGS, DRAWINGS AND WALL WORKS: HOMMAGE TO LUIS BARRAGÁN, Casa Museo Luis Barragán, Mexico City

1995

WHEN MEASUREMENT IS REALIZED, THE COLOUR OF SPACE, Baukunst-Galerie, Cologne (cat.)

1994

EVIDENCE PAINTINGS, Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, Munich (cat.)

1993

NEW PAINTINGS, Galerie Tanit, Munich
MONOTYPES FROM SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA, Verein für Original Radierung, Munich
BETWEEN LIGHT AND DARK, Pamela Auchincloss Gallery, New York

1992

THE POWYS PAINTINGS, Galerie Gebauer & Günther, Berlin
THE PHYSIC PAINTINGS AND DRAWINGS, Akin Gallery, Boston/Massachusetts, USA

1991

NEW PAINTINGS, Galerie Tanit, Munich
THE ASSUMPTION PAINTINGS, Pamela Auchincloss Gallery, New York (cat.)

1988

PAINTINGS MADE IN GERMANY AND ITALY, Nicola Jacobs Gallery, London (cat.)
PANEL PAINTINGS AND PAINTINGS ON COPPER, Lorenzelli Arte, Milan (cat.)

1987

FLIGHT, STORM AND REFORMATION, NEW PAINTINGS, Galerie Wassermann/Edition e, Munich (cat.)

1986

NEW PAINTINGS, Nicola Jacobs Gallery, London

1985

PAINTING ON WOOD AND PAPERWORKS, Ruth Siegel Gallery, New York

1983

CALLING, CLEARING, SOPRANO, Rochdale Art Gallery, Rochdale, GB (cat.)
NEW PAINTINGS AND WORKS ON PAPER, Nicola Jacobs Gallery, London

1982

PAINTINGS AND WALLPAINTING, Oriel Gallery, Arts Council of Great Britain, Cardiff, Wales (cat.)

1981

SALUTATIONS, Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London

1979

VERTICAL WALL-BOUND ARCS, Nicola Jacobs Gallery, London (cat.)

1978

PAINTINGS, Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London


Group exhibitions

2017PAINTING BLACK, Raum Schroth im Museum Wilhelm Morgner, Soest (cat.)
2016

VERKNÜPFT. Haleh Redjaian und die Sammlung, Museum für konkrete Kunst, Ingolstadt

2015

SCHWARZ AUF WEISS. Highlights aus der Sammlung Maximilian und Agathe Weishaupt und der Stiftung für Konkrete Kunst und Design, Museum für Konkrete Kunst, Ingolstadt

2014

PAINTING BLACK, The Sylvia Wald and Po Kim Art Gallery, New York City

2013

BEST OF, Künstler der Galerie, Galerie Nanna Preußners, Hamburg

2011

ABOUT PAINTING, The Sylvia Wald and Po Kim Art Foundation, Manhattan, New York (with Joe Barnes, Rupert Eder, Ivo Ringe)

2010

ARBEITEN AUF PAPIER - WORKS ON PAPER (with Rupert Eder, Christian F. Kintz, Ian McKeever, Ivo Ringe), Schaltwerk Kunst, Hamburg (now: Galerie Nanna Preußners)

2009

MiArt Art Now! Lorenzelli Arte, Milan

2008

MASTERPIECES OF MODERN BRITISH ART: SELECTED WORKS FROM THE DEREK WILLIAMS TRUST AND NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WALES, Osborne Samuel, London
THE ESSENCE OF THE MOMENT, Kulturforum in Herz Jesu, Cologne (with Joe Barnes, Rupert Eder, Ivo Ringe, cat.)
CHASING THE ORIGIN, Galerie König, Hanau/Frankfurt

2007

SHARED SPACE, Galleri Weinberger, Copenhagen (with Steven Scott)
THE OPTICAL EDGE, Pratt Manhattan Gallery, New York
SHARED SPACE, Galerie König, Hanau/Frankfurt (with Steven Scott)
DER ZWEITE BLICK, Stiftung für Konkrete Kunst, Reutlingen (Works from the collection)
VERKOPFT, Schaltwerk Kunst, Berlin (now: Galerie Nanna Preußners)
WATERCOLOURS, Galerie König, Hanau

2006

PITTURA, Mar & Partners Galleria, Turin
STILLE ABSTRAKTION, Galerie im alten Rathaus, Prien/Chiemsee (with Dany Paal, Stephen Westfall, Steven Scott and Werner Haypeter, cat.)

2005

JON GROOM, WALES/MUNICH, HIDE NASU, TOKYO/FRANKFURT, ERIC SNELL, GUERNSEY, Stiftung Starke, Berlin
AT THE MOMENT, Studio 18 Gallery, New York (with Joe Barnes, Claudia Desgranges, Ivo Ringe, Jerry Zeniuk)
COINCIDENTIA OPPOSITORIUM, CHRISTOPH BREUER & JON GROOM, Felix Ringel Galerie, Dusseldorf

2004

BLAUMACHEN, Kunstverein Traunstein (cat.)
DESTINATION GERMANY, kunst galerie fürth (with Liz Bachhuber, David John Flynn, Sean Scully, cat.)
GLI ANNI '80, Lorenzelli Arte, Milan

2003

DIE ACHTSAMKEIT DES AUGENBLICKS - 5 MALER, Neuer Kunstverein Aschaffenburg und Galerie Kamp, Sylt (with Joe Barnes, Claudia Desgranges, Ivo Ringe, Jerry Zeniuk, cat.)
ANNI '70 '80 '90, Lorenzelli Arte, Milan
MARK HARRINGTON & Jon Groom, Galeri S.E., Bergen, Norway

2001

MULTIPLES, Galerie Paal, Munich

2000

KÜNSTLER DER GALERIE, Galerie Paal, Munich

1996

GALLERY ARTISTS, Baukunst-Galerie, Cologne
MÜNCHNER KÜNSTLER FÖRDERN DIE PINAKOTHEK DER MODERNE, Haus der Kunst, Munich (cat.)

1995

TUTTI GLI ARTISTI DELLA GALLERIA, Lorenzelli Arte, Milan
WOODWORKS, Champion Art Gallery, Stamford, Connecticut, USA (cat.)
DEAR JOHN, Sophia Ungers Galerie, Cologne

1994

THE INTERNATIONAL DIARY SHOW, Beuerberg/Munich
ARENA WALLPAINTINGS AND RELATED PAINTINGS IN ALUMINIUM, Stiftung für konkrete Kunst, Reutlingen (cat.)
METRICA. JON GROOM, JULIA ANNA MANGOLD, TESSA ROBINS, Galleria Nuova Icona, Venice

1992

CABINET PAINTINGS, Gillian Jason Gallery, London, Hove Museum und Art Gallery, Sussex, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea, GB

1991

ARTISTS PRINTS, Galerie Hohenthal & Bergen, Munich
DRAWING, Pamela Auchincloss Gallery, New York

1990

SELECTED WORKS ON PAPER, Victoria Munroe Gallery, New York
THE JOURNEY, A SEARCH FOR THE ROLE OF CONTEMPORARY ART IN RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL LIFE, Usher Art Gallery und Lincoln Cathedral, Lincoln

1989

FIGURES, Galerie Municipale d’Art Contemporain, St. Priest, FRAC Rhone-Alpes

1988

THE PRESENCE OF PAINTING: ASPECTS OF BRITISH ABSTRACTION 1958-1988, Mappin Art Gallery Sheffield (touring exhibition, cat.)
IN - SIDE, Barbara Krakow Gallery, Boston Massachusetts, USA
DISCREET POWER: NEW ISSUES IN REDUCTIVIST PAINTING, Rockford Art Museum, Rockford, Illinois, USA (cat.)

1987

BLACK AND WHITE, Nicola Jacobs Gallery, London (cat.)
RECENT PAPER WORKS GALLERY ARTISTS, Nicola Jacobs Gallery, London
JOHN MOORES LIVERPOOL EXHIBITION, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
WINTER GROUP SHOW, Nicola Jacobs Gallery, London

1986

ABSTRACTION, WORKS ON PAPER, Anne Berthoud Gallery, London

1985

WORKS ON WOOD, Helander Gallery, Palm Beach, Florida, USA
THE DISCOVERY OF THE LAKE DISTRICT, Victoria & Albert Museum, London

1984

SUMMER SHOW '84, Nicola Jacobs Gallery, London
Evelyn Aimis Gallery, Toronto, Canada

1983

SUMMER EXHIBITION '83, Nicola Jacobs Gallery, London
LITTLE MISSENDEN FESTIVAL EXHIBITION, Little Missenden, Oxfordshire

1982

COLLABORATION, AN INSTALLATION, Nicola Jacobs Gallery, London
SUMMER SHOW '82, Nicola Jacobs Gallery, London
HAYWARD ANNUAL, Hayward Gallery, London (cat.)
THREE ARTISTS, Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth (with Christopher Hamer, Mark Harrington)
XIV. FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DE LA PEINTURE, Haut de Cagnes (cat.)

1981

SUMMER SHOW '81, Nicola Jacobs Gallery, London
OPEN STUDIO, New Crane Wharf, Wapping, London

1980

JOHN MEERE'S LIVERPOOL EXHIBITION 12, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
SUMMER SHOW´80, Nicola Jacobs Gallery, London
YOUNG BRITISH ARTISTS, Heathrow Airport, London
ACQUISITION, Victoria & Albert Museum, London
WORKS ON PAPER, Nicola Jacobs Gallery, London
WORKS ON PAPER, Somerville College, Oxford
EIGHT NEW BRITISH ARTISTS, Bernards Jacobson Gallery, New York

1979/80

THE BRITISH ART SHOW, Arts Council of Great Britain, Mappin Art Gallery, Sheffield; Laing Art Gallery, Hatton Gallery and University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne; Arnolfini Gallery and Royal West of England Academy in cooperation with City Museum and Art Gallery, Bristol (cat.)

1979

THE FIRST EXHIBITION, Nicola Jacobs Gallery, London
TOLLY COBBOLD EASTERN ARTS 2nd NATIONAL EXHIBITION, Norwich Art Gallery (touring exhibition)

1978

FELLOWS OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE COLLEGE OF ART, Cheltenham Art Gallery, Cheltenham (with Christopher Hamer and Heinz-Dieter Piesch)

1977

National Eisteddfod Exhibition, Wales