John Plumb

1927–2008

In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Rooms

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Artist biography

John PLUMB b. 1927

Abstract painter. Born 6 February 1927 at Luton. Studied at the Luton School of Art 1942–5, the Byam Shaw School 1948–50 and the Central School 1952–5, under Anthony Gross, Victor Pasmore, William Turnbull and Keith Vaughan. Has taught at Luton School of Art 1955-61, Maidstone College of Art 1961-6, and Bennington College, Vermont 1968-9. He became Senior Lecturer in Painting at the Central School of Art and Design, London 1969-1982. Represented in the A.I.A. abstract exhibitions 1953 and 1957, in the ‘Situation’ exhibitions 1960 and 1961 and in a group exhibition at Leverkusen 1961. Group exhibitions since this date include British Painting 1974, Hayward Gallery, London; Art 90, Olympia, London 1990 and Art & the 60s: This Was Tomorrow, Tate Britain, 2004. First one-man exhibition at Gallery One 1957. He has since had solo exhibitions at many galleries throughout the UK, including the Arnolfini Gallery in Bristol 1967, London Arts Gallery 1970, Bohun Gallery Henley-on-Thames 1995 and 1997 and The Atkinson Gallery, Somerset 2002. Did murals for the temporary U.I.A. Congress Buildings 1961.

Wikipedia entry

John Plumb (6 February 1927 – 6 April 2008) was an English abstract painter who emerged in Britain after World War II.

Plumb was born in Luton, England and he attended the Byam Shaw School of Art in London at the age of 20. He also studied at the Luton School of Art (1942–45), Byam Shaw School of Art in London (1948–50), and the Central School of Art and Design in London (1952–55), with Victor Pasmore and William Turnbull. He then taught at the Luton School of Art (1955–61), the Maidstone College of Art (1961–66), Bennington College (Vermont, United States, 1968–69), and then became Senior Lecturer in Painting at the Central School of Art and Design (1969–1982).

John Plumb's works reflected his admiration for American Color Field painting and hard-edge painting. In the mid-1960s, Plumb produced paintings with large fields of a single colour, including narrow strips on the edge of different colours, intended to enhance the emotional impact of the central, major, and usually intense hue optically.

While studying in London, Plumb married Joan Lawrence, a long-time close friend. He died aged 81.

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