Allen Jones

Allen Jones (b. 1937) is a British pop artist celebrated for his bold exploration of sexual imagery and his controversial works that straddle painting, sculpture and lithography. A central figure in the English Pop Art Movement, Jones gained prominence with his provocative fiberglass sculptures "Hatstand, Table, and Chair" (1970), depicting life-sized female mannequins as furniture in fetishistic poses. While criticized for objectifying women, Jones framed his work as a commentary on popular culture’s representations of gender. These pieces have sparked debate for decades and remain both notorious and highly valuable, with versions selling for $2.8 million in 2013.

 

A graduate of the Royal College of Art, Jones was expelled after a year but went on to help define British Pop Art through the 1961 Young Contemporaries exhibition. He represented the UK at the Paris Biennale in 1963, winning the Prix des Jeunes Artistes. His career evolved from transgressive sculpture to large-scale public commissions, including monumental steel works in London, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

 

Jones has had major solo exhibitions, including retrospectives at the Barbican Art Gallery, the Serpentine Gallery and the Royal Academy of Arts. His work is held in prestigious international collections such as Tate, MoMA and the Victoria & Albert Museum. A Royal Academician since 1986, he has also taught extensively and designed for the Royal Ballet and Thames Television.