Tim Ellis’s unique approach to sculpting revolves around the idea that “a being has a primeval desire to want to belong to something greater than oneself.”
Ellis prompts questions of value, authorship and display by highlighting connections between artifice and the natural order; drawing mental and tactile relations between materials by subtly altering their forms.
Found objects including plates, vases, and Christmas tree ornaments are reconfigured in Ellis’ work to become assemblages of totemic significance. Ready-made components are customised, such as adding faux finishing to bric-a-brac or editing motifs to complement other materials.
Through these alterations Ellis strives to assign gender to his work, conceiving each piece as male or female before communicating this through an object's aesthetics.
Ellis’ work is regularly exhibited in the UK and internationally, featuring at galleries and museums including Furini Contemporary (Rome), Spacex (Exeter), Primopiano (Lugano, Switzerland), Schirn Kunsthalle (Frankfurt), CAPC (Bordeaux), Horatio Junior, Simon Oldfield, Saatchi Gallery, Brown Gallery and A Foundation (all London).
Ellis was a Glenfiddich Artist in Residence during 2011, and was also shortlisted for the John Moores Painting Prize in 2010.
timellis.org
BA Fine Art Drawing