Jon Coffelt

Last updated
Jon Coffelt
Born (1963-05-16) May 16, 1963 (age 60)
Nationality American
Education Middle Tennessee State University (1981–1984); Southern Institute (1984- 1986); University of Alabama at Birmingham (1985–1986); Auburn University (1986)
Known for Painting, Sculpture, Installation art, Curator

Johnny Lee Coffelt (born May 16, 1963) is an American artist who lives and works in Brooklyn New York City. Coffelt paints, sculpts, sews, makes book arts, and curates art exhibitions.

Contents

Background

Coffelt was born to Dorcas Ann (née Shadrick) and John Henry Coffelt and has two sisters, Joanna and Janie. Coffelt was raised in the East Tennessee mountains in the town of Palmer and the community of Griffith Creek near Whitwell, Tennessee. Coffelt has been painting since he was eight years old when his grandfather, John Ervin Coffelt taught him how to paint. [1] Coffelt still considers himself a colorist. [2]

Career

Coffelt's career began in the fashion industry designing clothing as well as fabric for Willi Smith in the 1980s. Once he decided to devote his full energies to art he was commissioned by Jim Mitchell to paint over 100 works for the Parisian Department Store chain. [3] In 1989 Coffelt received "Outstanding Ten Year Alumnus Award" from Southern Institute. Coffelt was the inaugural artist at Space One Eleven founded by Anne Arrasmith and Peter Prinz, when it opened in 1989 in Birmingham, Alabama. [4]

In 1991 Coffelt was commissioned by Absolut Vodka to kick off its "Absolut Statehood" campaign representing the state of Alabama; the result was shown in publications such as USA Today, Time , [5] Out and Science Digest . At 28 years old, Coffelt was the youngest artist ever commissioned by Absolut Vodka. [6]

From 1993 until 2001 Coffelt, with former partner Shawn Boley and Janet Hughes, owned and operated Agnes (gallery), a gallery devoted to socially aware photography, short film/video and book arts.

From 1994 to 1996, Coffelt served as editor and publisher of Alabama Art Monthly. In 2002 Coffelt closed the gallery in order to move to New York and give his own art undivided attention. Over the last several years his work has been shown across the United States and in many overseas exhibits.

Work

Curatorial work

Notes and references

  1. "Coffelt's background". Archived from the original on 2017-01-18. Retrieved 2007-11-23.
  2. USA Today, Jon Coffelt. January 17, 1992 p. 6 worldwide release
  3. "Commissioned paintings for Parisian Department Stores". Archived from the original on 2017-01-18. Retrieved 2007-11-23.
  4. James R. Nelson, "Space One Eleven is Important Addition to Arts Scene," Birmingham News, Birmingham, AL, November 29, 1987: pg. 6F
  5. Time, ad February 14, 1994
  6. Ruth Beumont Reuse, "Absolut Coffelt," Birmingham Magazine, February 1992. page 19
  7. "Hypnotic Post: Atlanta Abstraction Now" at Swan Coach House Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia.
  8. Nancy Raabe, "Tiny Treasures,"Birmingham News, Birmingham, AL, September 10, 2000: pg. 1F & 8F
  9. "The Longest Winter," curated by Gene Moreno Florida Atlantic University, Miami, FL
  10. "Art and Place II: Material at Hand" for Center for the Living Arts/Space 301 Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine , Mobile, Alabama
  11. "Miniature Clothing Project"
  12. Birmingham News, "Contour exhibit casts spotlight on wonderful world of lines", Sunday, June 18, 2006

Books

ISBN   978-0764353420

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