John Mitchell 'Palladium Diptych ad:ab' 2001 Ink on Paper

John Mitchell (1942-2014)

Palladium Diptych ad:ab, 2001

Print on paper

British artist John Mitchell developed a distinctive approach to abstract art, exploring the relationship between mathematics, geometry and colour. His paintings, drawings and sculptures were often developed through carefully calculated systems of proportion, particularly the Fibonacci sequence, in which each number is the sum of the two preceding numbers.

Born in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, Mitchell studied at Kingston College of Art before beginning a long career combining his own artistic practice with teaching. He taught at Coventry College of Art and Stourbridge School of Art, before being appointed Gregory Fellow in Painting at the University of Leeds in 1978. He was the final artist to receive this prestigious fellowship, which had previously been awarded to artists including Terry Frost.

His work attracted considerable attention during the 1970s and 1980s, with exhibitions at Camden Arts Centre, the Serpentine Gallery in London and Galerie Swart in Amsterdam. He later became Senior Research Fellow in Fine Art at Cardiff School of Art and continued teaching at Wimbledon School of Art.

Although his work was rooted in mathematical systems, Mitchell was equally interested in the unpredictable relationships between colour, form and space. The calculations provided a structure within which more intuitive decisions could be made.

Made in 2001, Palladium Diptych ad:ab brings together two closely related geometric compositions. Both share a distinctive stepped perimeter, but their internal arrangements differ. The left-hand form is punctuated by four triangular spaces, while the right has a more enclosed centre. Placed alongside one another, they explore the relationship between positive and negative space, a recurring concern throughout Mitchell’s career.

Mitchell worked from his studio overlooking Newlyn Harbour in Cornwall, where he continued developing his ideas about proportion and abstraction.

His work is represented in public collections including the Arts Council Collection, Leeds Art Gallery and the University of Leeds Art Collection.

Artist: John Mitchell (1942-2014)
Title: Palladium Diptych ad:ab
Date: 2001
Medium: Print on paper
Country: UK
Dimensions: Framed 25.5 × 29 cm