Joe Tilson

(British, 1928–2023)

Joe Tilson is an English artist who created painted relief sculptures from wood. During the early 1970s, Tilson’s work transitioned from Pop Art themes and collages to mysterious, symbolic works based on classical mythology, lunar cycles, and Neo-Platonic theory. Born on August 24, 1928 in London, United Kingdom, he worked as a carpenter and served in the Royal Air Force before studying at the St. Martin’s School of Art under Leon Kossoff and Frank Auerbach. He later attended the Royal College of Art in London, where he won the prestigious Rome Prize. The artist represented the United Kingdom in the 32nd Venice Biennale in 1964, which famously included the works of Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Claes Oldenburg, and Jim Dine. His works are in the collections of the Tate Gallery in London, the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, and the Kunsthalle Basel, among others. Tilson currently lives and works between London, United Kingdom and Tuscany, Italy.