Thomas J Price practice takes a variety of forms, from sculpted heads and figures to stop motion animation. His sculptures are amalgamation of a wide range of influences, including ideas taken from classical sculpture, observations of people, and images from magazines. “Network” is one such sculpture.

“Ultimately people are my biggest inspiration, or perhaps strangers is a better word. The Psychological and emotional aspects of our encounters with them we construct the truth (out) of what is presented to us in those first moments upon seeing someone.” Thomas J Price

Whilst studying Classics, Price found himself drawn to historical depictions of how nations represent themselves through sculpture. Through his work he searches for his own visual identity within these prestigious lines of history as a half Jamaican, half British man. Price was born in London in 1981 and studied at Chelsea College of Art from 2001 to 2004 before completing an MA at the Royal College of Art, Sculpture, school in 2006.

“Network” subverted the idealised bodies typically depicted in Greek and Roman Art. Price presents us with modern archetypal figures whose features are clearly Afro-Caribbean and who’s clothes and attitudes are relentlessly contemporary.

By rendering these ordinary styles, Thomas J Price levels out the hierarchies of Western sculpture, testing the viewers expectations and questioning historical social structures.

The three meter tall bronze “Network” statue is the artist largest work to date, which takes the form of a young man casually dressed looking at his phone. Typical of Price Sculpture, the figure stands with a relaxed pose although his facial expression opens up the potential for a far more complex internal narrative.

To find out more about the artist follow the below links.

http://www.thomasjprice.com

https://www.halesgallery.com/m/artists/19-thomas-j-price/overview/

http://www.contemporaryartsociety.org/news/artist-to-watch/thomas-j-price/

https://www.interviewmagazine.com/art/thomas-j-price-worship

https://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/display/2016/thomas-j-price-now-you-see-me.php