Meet new IAVA member Jamie Cole. We asked Jamie a few questions about his art practice.
What was your earliest memory of an interaction with Art?
My first memory of art was a print outside my mum’s bedroom of Picasso’s Blue Nude. The painting features a female figure with her back to the viewer and I remember wondering if it was my mum. I was struck by the emotion in the work, the sensitivity and loneliness of the figure.
My first interaction with creating art was in 1975 when I got 1st prize in the Ramsgate Primary School 2nd Grade Art Prize. I had forgotten about this award until my mother found it and presented it to me on my 50th birthday. It was another 43 years before I entered another art prize. This time it was a Special Award – Figurative in the 40th Annual Kiama Art Society Exhibition. This was a tongue in cheek self portrait titled “@21+ 30” which celebrated the 30th Anniversary of my 21st birthday.
How would you describe your art practice?
I’m a Pop artist with a strong social comment. My influences are Pop and urban art and I create quirky and colourful acrylic & mixed media pieces. My work is easily recognizable and always contains my signature collage. My influences are the Pop artists from the 1950’s and 60’s, Warhol, Lichtenstein, Rauschenberg and the 1980’s, Keith Haring and Jean Michel Basquiat. My Australian influences are Brett Whitely and Martin Sharp.
Do you have a favourite artist/s or artwork?
My favourite artist is Keith Haring. Haring was the first artist to go from the streets to the gallery. His work could be seen all over the subways and streets of NYC. What makes Haring so special is that he was an activist and an artist, using his unique style of Pop art to bring awareness of HIV/AIDS and education of Safe Sex throughout the 80’s until his death in 1990.
Most recent adventure or achievement?
I have been fortunate enough to have had two solo exhibitions as part of the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Festivals in 2019 and 2020. The exhibitions were Mardi Gras Premiere Events and held at Artsite Gallery in Camperdown, Sydney. Both exhibitions contained a strong social message about the Queer Community with the most recent dealing with the stigma that still exists towards HIV.
Any current goals you’re working towards?
My current goal is to keep happy, healthy and to keep creating.
I love supporting and working with artists in our community and giving them a platform to exhibit through the Art Bar Kiama. My work is evolving and has now includes 3 dimensional pieces. I want to continue to build on this and push boundaries. I would love everyone to see the world through my eyes and hopefully by doing so, create a little happiness.
Jamie Cole in his studio.