Biography
Born in Cornwall, UK, in 1965, Jason Ellis studied sculpture at the University of Chichester under Alan Saunders, a former student of Anthony Caro’s. Following his degree, he trained then worked as a sculpture conservator in London for eight years and Ireland for a further twelve, having moved to Dublin in 1994.
In 2006 he left conservation and turned exclusively to producing his own sculptures, which now feature in numerous public and private collections. Public works include Bantry Boats, the Bantry House Archive Gift, Co. Cork, 1997, and The McDonogh Stone for the Druid Theatre, Galway, 2009. His largest commission, Figurehead, stands over 7 metres high and was completed for University College Dublin in 2008. In 2010 he installed Black Pool, White Water at the Garda Memorial Garden in Dublin Castle and showed – hedra at the 12th Venice Architecture Biennale. In 2013, he held his first solo show with the Oliver Sears Gallery and was invited to submit to the National Self-Portrait Collection of Ireland.
The combination of a fine art training and twenty years spent in conservation has influenced his art practice. His immaculate carvings display a deep knowledge and appreciation of the medium of stone. His studio is a converted farm building in the Ox Mountains, Co. Sligo, where he carves for nine months of the year. In his practice he utilises pure abstraction and aspects of the human form.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2024 Monkey Gone to Heaven, Oliver Sears Gallery, Dublin
2020 In The Studio, Salon show at his studio, Dublin
2019 Simulacra, Oliver Sears Gallery, Dublin
2016 Old Anatomy, Oliver Sears Gallery, Dublin
2013 Corpus, Oliver Sears Gallery, Dublin
2012 Plaster of Paris: Maquettes, 2006-2001, Pearse Museum, Rathfarnham, Dublin
2011 New Stone Carvings, Prospect Gallery, Dublin
2010 Jason Ellis: Sculptures, F.E. McWilliam Gallery & Studio, Banbridge, Northern Ireland
2007 New Works, Portobello Studios, Dublin
Selected Group Exhibitions
2024 Royal Ulster Academy, 143rd Annual, Belfast
2024 Royal Hibernian Academy, 194th Annual Exhibition, Dublin
2024 Summer Exhibition Ballymaloe House, Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition, Shanagarry, Cork
2024 Boyle Arts Festival, Boyle, Co.Roscommon
2023 Royal Ulster Academy, 142nd Annual Show, Belfast
2023 In Residence 3, Oliver Sears Gallery in London, Cromwell Place, London SW7
2023 RHA 193rd Annual, Dublin
2023 Summer exhibition, Ballymaloe House, Richie Scott Sculpture
2023 Winter exhibition, McKenna Gallery, Omagh
2022 RHA 192nd Annual, Dublin
2022 Boyle Arts Festival, Boyle, Roscommon
2022 Summer exhibition, Ballymaloe House, Richard Scott Sculpture Inc.
2022 I see Earth, dePaor Architects retrospective exhibition, Visual Arts Centre, Carlow
2021 RHA 191st Annual, Dublin
2021 Boyle Arts Festival, Boyle, Roscommon
2021 RSSG at Ballymaloe, Richard Scott Sculpture Inc.
2020 Double Estate, St. Enda’s Museum OPW
2020 RSSG at Ballymaloe, Richard Scott Sculpture Inc.
2020 The Time of Our Lives, Oliver Sears Gallery online
2019 RHA 189th Annual, Dublin
2019 In Living Memory, Emo Court, Co. Laois, OPW & Oliver Sears Gallery
2019 Form at Ballymaloe, Richard Scott Sculpture Inc.
2019 Boyle Arts Festival, 30th Anniversary, Boyle, Roscommon
2018 RHA 188th Annual, Shortlisted for RCSI Art Award
2018 Royal Ulster Academy, Annual Show Belfast
2018 The Long Summer Show, John Martin Gallery, London
2018 Form at Ballymaloe, Richard Scott Sculpture Inc.
2017 Periodical Review #7, Pallas Projects, Dublin
2017 RHA 187th Annual, Invited Artist, Dublin
2017 Royal Ulster Academy, Annual Show, Belfast
2017 Form at Ballymaloe, Richard Scott Sculpture Inc.
2017 Sculpture at Oldbridge, Oldbridge House, Co. Meath. Sculpture in Context & OPW
2016 In Residence 2, Oliver Sears Gallery in London, Fitzroy Square, London
2016 Royal Ulster Academy, Annual Show, Invited Artist, Belfast
2016 Form 2016, Artistic Alliance, Ballymaloe House, Cork
2016 Sculpture in Context, Botanical Gardens, Dublin
2016 RHA 186th Annual, Ely Place, Dublin
2015 In Residence, Oliver Sears Gallery in London, Fitzroy Square, London
2015 Form at Ballymaloe, Artistic Alliance
2015 RHA 185th Annual, Ely Place, Dublin
2014 National Self-Portrait Collection of Ireland, University of Limerick, Limerick
2014 RHA 184th Annual, Ely Place, Dublin
2014 Vase, vessel, void, Oliver Sears Gallery, Dublin
2014 National Self-Portrait Collection of Ireland, University of Limerick
2014 Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
2014 Sculpture in Context, Botanical Gardens, Dublin
2014 Unfold, Rua Red Gallery, Tallaght, Dublin
2014 CASe, Lavit Gallery, Cork
2014 Form, Artistic Alliance, Ballymaloe House, Cork
2013-2012 Boyle Arts Festival, Boyle, Roscommon
Collections
Irish State Art Collection
National Self Portrait Collection of Ireland
F.E. McWilliam Gallery & Studio
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Office of Public Works
KBC Bank
Bank of Ireland
University College Dublin
University College Cork
Trinity College Dublin
AWAS
Irish Presidential Collection
National Union of Journalists, UK
Commissions
2022 These Islands, dePaor Architects retrospective, VISUAL, Carlow
2020 – 2030 RCSI Cameron Award, 10 award sculptures for the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
2012 Fergus Ahern Memorial, Boyle, Co. Roscommon
2010 12th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, Venice
2010 Garda Memorial Garden, Dublin Castle
2009 Druid Theatre, Galway
2008 The Jim McNaughton Perpetual Award, Allianz/Business to Arts Awards, Dublin
2007 University College Dublin, Roebuck House, Belfield Campus, Dublin
1997 The Bantry House Archive Gift, Bantry House, Co. Cork