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Steven Claydon
Unlimiteds and Limiters (Lustre)
Steven Claydon graduated with a BA in Fine Art from Chelsea School of Art & Design (1991) and an MA from Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design (1997) both London.
Claydon’s work explores the cultural histories and narratives acquired by objects and artworks over time, which is often at dramatic odds with their ‘original’ values or functions. Encompassing sculpture, painting, video and performance, his practice is concerned with the disjunction between the essential materiality of objects and their ascribed meanings or connotations. By introducing new references, juxtapositions, and ideas to objects or environments heavy with their own cultural histories, Claydon’s works function beyond their immediate aestheticism to interrogate notions of belonging, of displacement and of temporality and permanence.
The artist is interested in the idea of public sculpture and in the work included in THE HEAD explores the bearded man as a base to expand on the concept of ambiguity.
The two seemingly traditional busts, Unlimited and Limiters (Lustre) and Unlimited and Limiters (Lava) are made of a polymer-ceramic mix, one with a chemically chromed lustre, was commissioned by The High Line, New York, and included in an exhibition titled Busted.
Throughout his practice the artist explores mutations and transformations acquired by cultural artefacts over time, the physical provenance/signs of aging that appear on these works as patination and crazing are intended and encouraged by the artist and celebrated as apparent markers of cultural experience and endurance through historical change. The integrity connoted by goldenness is in the instance of Unlimited and Limiters (Lustre) replaced by the spurious or superficial quality of gildedness or glaze. Gilding has occurred throughout Claydon’s practice to explore ideas of ideal beauty, deception, utility and the fragility or sanctity or financial vs cultural value.
Steven Claydon’s solo shows include Introduced Species of Micronesia, Mount Stuart Castle, Isle of Bute, UK, 2017; The Gilded Bough, Sadie Coles HQ, London, 2016; Analogues, Methods, Monsters, Machines, Centre D’Art Contemporain Geneva, Geneva, 2015; Grid & Spike, MDC Massimo De Carlo, Milan, 2013; Total Social Objects, David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles (CA), USA, 2013; Rat. Pearl. London. Onion: Sadie Coles HQ, London, 2012; 2009 David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles (CA), USA; The Ancient Set and The Fictional Pixel, Film Installations and Performance,Serpentine Pavilion, London, 2008; Courtesy Of The Neighbourhood Watch, White Columns, New York (NY), USA, 2006; The Third of the Third, Hoxton Distillery, London, 2004.
Claydon’s work has also been included in such group shows as Infinite Sculpture: From the Antique Cast to the 3D Scan, Calouste Gulbenkian Museum,Lisbon, 2020; A Contemporary Collection, Hepworth Wakefield, Wakefield, UK, 2020; Delirious, Lustwarande – Platform for Contemporary Sculpture, Tilburg, 2019; Drawing Room Biennial 2017, Drawing Room, London, 2017; Self-Portrait, Massimo de Carlo, London, 2016; Arts Council Collection, The Atkinson, Southport, UK; Towner, Eastbourne, 2016; Alexander McQueen, women’s store, London, 2014; Aquatopia, Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham, UK; Tate St Ives, St Ives, UK, 2013; SOUNDWORKS, Institute of Contemporary Art, London, 2012; Time Again, Sculpture Center, Long Island City (NY), USA, 2011; British Art Show 7: In the Days of the Comet, Hayward Gallery, London, 2011;The Dark Monarch, Tate St. Ives, Cornwall, 2009; The Ancient Set, Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, 2008; Old School, Hauser and Wirth Colnaghi, London; Zwirner and Wirth, New York, 2007; Rings of Saturn, Tate Modern, London, 2006; From Earth, Light Box, Tate Britain,2005; Shrimp-Ice Briefing, with Neil Chapman, ICA , London, 1998.
Claydon’s work is in such notable institutional collections as Haus der Kunst, Munich, Germany; Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington; Faye G. Allen Center for the Arts, Seattle (WA), USA; Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich, Germany; Rennie Museum, Vancouver, Canada; Saatchi Gallery, London; Southampton City Art Gallery, Southampton, UK; Tate Collection, London.
Steven Claydon is currently represented by Sadie Coles Gallery HQ in London, England.
Steven Claydon graduated with a BA in Fine Art from Chelsea School of Art & Design (1991) and an MA from Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design (1997) both London.
Claydon’s work explores the cultural histories and narratives acquired by objects and artworks over time, which is often at dramatic odds with their ‘original’ values or functions. Encompassing sculpture, painting, video and performance, his practice is concerned with the disjunction between the essential materiality of objects and their ascribed meanings or connotations. By introducing new references, juxtapositions, and ideas to objects or environments heavy with their own cultural histories, Claydon’s works function beyond their immediate aestheticism to interrogate notions of belonging, of displacement and of temporality and permanence.
The artist is interested in the idea of public sculpture and in the work included in THE HEAD explores the bearded man as a base to expand on the concept of ambiguity.
The two seemingly traditional busts, Unlimited and Limiters (Lustre) and Unlimited and Limiters (Lava) are made of a polymer-ceramic mix, one with a chemically chromed lustre, was commissioned by The High Line, New York, and included in an exhibition titled Busted.
Throughout his practice the artist explores mutations and transformations acquired by cultural artefacts over time, the physical provenance/signs of aging that appear on these works as patination and crazing are intended and encouraged by the artist and celebrated as apparent markers of cultural experience and endurance through historical change. The integrity connoted by goldenness is in the instance of Unlimited and Limiters (Lustre) replaced by the spurious or superficial quality of gildedness or glaze. Gilding has occurred throughout Claydon’s practice to explore ideas of ideal beauty, deception, utility and the fragility or sanctity or financial vs cultural value.
Steven Claydon’s solo shows include Introduced Species of Micronesia, Mount Stuart Castle, Isle of Bute, UK, 2017; The Gilded Bough, Sadie Coles HQ, London, 2016; Analogues, Methods, Monsters, Machines, Centre D’Art Contemporain Geneva, Geneva, 2015; Grid & Spike, MDC Massimo De Carlo, Milan, 2013; Total Social Objects, David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles (CA), USA, 2013; Rat. Pearl. London. Onion: Sadie Coles HQ, London, 2012; 2009 David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles (CA), USA; The Ancient Set and The Fictional Pixel, Film Installations and Performance,Serpentine Pavilion, London, 2008; Courtesy Of The Neighbourhood Watch, White Columns, New York (NY), USA, 2006; The Third of the Third, Hoxton Distillery, London, 2004.
Claydon’s work has also been included in such group shows as Infinite Sculpture: From the Antique Cast to the 3D Scan, Calouste Gulbenkian Museum,Lisbon, 2020; A Contemporary Collection, Hepworth Wakefield, Wakefield, UK, 2020; Delirious, Lustwarande – Platform for Contemporary Sculpture, Tilburg, 2019; Drawing Room Biennial 2017, Drawing Room, London, 2017; Self-Portrait, Massimo de Carlo, London, 2016; Arts Council Collection, The Atkinson, Southport, UK; Towner, Eastbourne, 2016; Alexander McQueen, women’s store, London, 2014; Aquatopia, Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham, UK; Tate St Ives, St Ives, UK, 2013; SOUNDWORKS, Institute of Contemporary Art, London, 2012; Time Again, Sculpture Center, Long Island City (NY), USA, 2011; British Art Show 7: In the Days of the Comet, Hayward Gallery, London, 2011;The Dark Monarch, Tate St. Ives, Cornwall, 2009; The Ancient Set, Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, 2008; Old School, Hauser and Wirth Colnaghi, London; Zwirner and Wirth, New York, 2007; Rings of Saturn, Tate Modern, London, 2006; From Earth, Light Box, Tate Britain,2005; Shrimp-Ice Briefing, with Neil Chapman, ICA , London, 1998.
Claydon’s work is in such notable institutional collections as Haus der Kunst, Munich, Germany; Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington; Faye G. Allen Center for the Arts, Seattle (WA), USA; Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich, Germany; Rennie Museum, Vancouver, Canada; Saatchi Gallery, London; Southampton City Art Gallery, Southampton, UK; Tate Collection, London.
Steven Claydon is currently represented by Sadie Coles Gallery HQ in London, England.
