INTERVIEW
Introducing John Booth
We’re excited to welcome multidisciplinary artist, John Booth, to the Grand Matter family!
A ceramicist, painter, surface designer and illustrator, John’s practice takes many forms. Known for his joyous colour palettes and playful designs, he’s collaborated with iconic brands including Fendi, Paul Smith, Selfridges, The Conran Shop and many more, on a host of projects, installations and product launches.
With roots in fashion print design, John’s illustrative work stands out with its energy and in-the-moment expression. One of the things we love is the ever changing space it sits within, and his imagination for new ways to apply his work, from the printed page through to furniture, ceramics and installations.
To introduce his way of working, we spoke with John about what motivates him to create the work he does, his evolution as an artist, and an ever expanding bucket list of collaborations!
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I like to imagine a new piece, or a type of work, and imagine what it’d be like to make it. Sometimes it becomes a real thing, sometimes it remains a fantasy.
– John Booth
How would you describe your work in one sentence?
A practice based around joyful self exploration and constant experimentation with new materials and applications.
What are your main influences or inspirations as an artist?
It’s always about conveying energy and a sense of play somehow. One of the main driving forces is the desire to try out new mediums and ways of working that I haven’t tried before, almost as a way to keep myself entertained more than anything else.
I like to imagine a new piece or type of work, and imagine what it’d be like to make it, sometimes it becomes a real thing, sometimes it remains a fantasy. I like starting with a drawing and then having the challenge of turning the drawing it into a real thing, whether it’s a ceramic object, a piece of clothing, furniture or whatever. I’m very driven by colour combinations and I take a lot of enjoyment in playing around with that.
Is there anything you’ve been inspired by most recently?
Normal, regular and potentially boring everyday life and how art and design fits into this, and enhances it, I’m really interested in this.
I’ve been thinking a lot about functionality and how important or unimportant this is. I like thinking about how people engage with and consume things, and to what extent they find use or joy in those things.
Can you sum up your journey to where you are now as an artist?
I grew up in Cumbria, so it was all about applied arts, which I’m still very interested in now. Then I studied fashion at Central Saint Martins, which I think toughened me up a lot and made me quite a resilient person, which I’m thankful for. Now, I’m at a point in my career where I feel there is still so much to try out, and in a lot of ways, I feel like I’m just starting out still, so it’s hard for me to define exactly where I’m at right now as an artist.
We love the way your work is applied across different forms, objects and scale. Is this materiality something you’ve always been drawn to?
For definite, I think it comes from being raised in Cumbria around so much applied art and craft, and also the fact I didn’t like sport as a kid, so there wasn’t much else to do than draw and make things, I think this still applies to me today.
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I’d like to make a hanging mobile with a fancy design company, and more interior stuff like wallpaper and fabrics. A sofa!
– John Booth
Do you have a medium or material you’re enjoying working with the most at the moment?
For me, it's always a constant pleasure to go back to the simplicity and immediacy of drawing on paper, so, that.
And finally, do you have any bucket list projects or dream collaborations?
There are so many things I’d like to do, and the list changes day to day, week to week. Currently, I still fantasise a lot about doing more fashion stuff, as I still get really excited about seeing my work in textile format. I’d like to make a hanging mobile with a fancy design company, and more interior stuff, like wallpaper and fabrics. A sofa!
About John Booth
John is a multidisciplinary artist based in London. His hand crafted work, full of energy and expression, makes use of multiple materials and is applied across a huge range of outputs. Clients include Paul Smith, Selfridges, The Conran Shop and more.
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