Meet Jonjo Elliott | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jonjo Elliott and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jonjo, what makes you happy? Why?
Happiness to me is so many different things. Watching my 4 kids grow and do the things they enjoy always makes me happy. They dance, play sport, love art and fashion and generally keep me busy 24-7, but Saturday night on the couch surrounded by my family with an open fire and a movie playing is the most perfect time for me.
Time spent in my studio working on new pieces is my escape from the real world and always makes me smile. I have a small studio on the side of my house with a good stereo and a view across my garden and I can easily spend all day in there making work and experimenting on different processes and artworks.
Travel is another love of mine. Seeing new places and sharing the experience with my family is amazing and the last few years have made me realise even more how important it is to just get away and see whats out there.
Music. I can’t work without music in my studio and I listen to a huge range of artists from all decades but 60’s and 90’s tunes are my faves.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I want my art to excite people and fill spaces with joy and colour and the large scale size I work in creates an opportunity to really lose yourself in the artwork. My style is easily recognisable and always brightens up any space its hung in. I made art as a kid but I didn’t push myself to follow the artist career until later in life when I applied for University as a mature student. Before that I’d had creative jobs in photography and design but i wanted to paint, I just didn’t know what or how to do it as a career. After I graduated I set up my own studio and started to push my work out there, getting into group shows, art fairs and social media platforms. It wasn’t easy as I have a large family to support so I worked alongside painting and my work started to get noticed and sell more. Then Artplex Gallery in LA got in touch and asked if I’d send them some work for their gallery space and before long they offered me a solo show in LA which has been one of my proudest moments. They’ve been such a good gallery for me, constantly pushing my work and getting it into collectors homes, I literally can’t thank them enough. The solo show meant I could fly over with my family and live the LA life for a while, which I absolutely loved! I’ve also recently had my art featured in the NETFLIX series ‘Dirty John’ which is just crazy!
Looking back I think my biggest asset is my work ethic, I literally work all the time, but I wouldn’t change a thing. No-one tells you how hard it is to become an artist but I guess its the same in all careers, work hard and good things happen.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m a real beach lover so we’d start the day with a walk along the beach and a large breakfast at Paradise Cove. Next up a stop off at Broad Beach for a quick surf and check out the dolphins swimming by.
Head over to Trancas Country Market for a coffee and a look around the surf shops.
Drive into the city and get some lunch at one of the many cafe’s along Beverly Boulevard before stopping by Artplex Gallery to check out my latest works!
Obviously you need to wander down Rodeo Drive and check out the latest fashions. One of my favourite trips there included visiting the ‘Louis Vuitton X’ exhibition which featured amazing contemporary artists from around the world.
Then the perfect evening would be spent with friends and food on any one of the amazing beaches back along the Pacific highway watching the sunset.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout is to Artplex Gallery in LA and the team who make it such a cool place. They’ve done so much for me over the last few years giving me solo shows, exhibiting my work at art fairs across the USA, getting my art into NETFLIX shows and showing my work to collectors around the world. They do a brilliant job and their collection of available art is awesome.

Website: https://www.jonjoelliott.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonjoelliott/?hl=en