Artist Biography: Joe Tilson R.A. (1928–2023)
Joe Tilson was a prominent British artist and a leading figure in the Pop Art movement of the 1960s. Born in London in 1928, he initially worked as a carpenter and joiner before serving in the Royal Air Force from 1946 to 1949. He pursued formal art education at St Martin's School of Art (1949–1952) and the Royal College of Art (1952–1955), where he studied alongside notable artists such as Peter Blake and Richard Smith. In 1955, Tilson was awarded the Rome Prize, allowing him to study in Italy, a country that profoundly influenced his artistic development.
Professional Relationships and Influences
During his time at the Royal College of Art, Tilson formed connections with contemporaries including Frank Auerbach, Leon Kossoff, and R.B. Kitaj. He was also associated with Richard Hamilton and Eduardo Paolozzi through the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London. These relationships placed him at the heart of the burgeoning Pop Art scene in Britain.
Exhibitions and Collections
Tilson's work has been exhibited extensively worldwide. Notably, he represented Britain at the 32nd Venice Biennale in 1964. His art is held in prestigious public collections, including
Tate Britain, London
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
The British Museum, London
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York
Centre Pompidou, Paris
Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.
Educational Contributions
Beyond his practice, Tilson contributed to art education by teaching at institutions such as St Martin's School of Art, the Slade School of Fine Art in London, the School of Visual Arts in New York, and the Hochschule für Bildende Künste in Hamburg.