“Time waits for no man, but More haste less speed. Like any good set of proverbs, Jim Bond’s sculptures in many ways already belong somehow to our own familiar world yet don’t always give us a clear steer. The shock of recognition relies on this sense that we already know what they might mean. Their subtle combinations of moral personality with sensory delight give them their amazing potency”
Simon Schaffer - Professor of the History and Philosophy of Science at The University of Cambridge
BIOG
Jim Bond is a sculptor specialising in dynamic kinetic structures and forms which evolve before the eyes. His fascination with mechanisms and human anatomy led him to an exploration of anthropomorphic machines as creators of their own narratives. From intricate responsive silver and copper devices to engineered, large scale wind powered installations these mechanised structures unfold to reveal wondrous illusions and hidden surprises. Working from his studio in Yorkshire he exhibits nationally and internationally most recently at The Morris Museum, USA, and he has created significant commissions for the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge University and Lords Cricket Museum, London. His anthropomorphic illusionary portrait of Rosalind Franklin was commissioned by English Heritage for their ‘Immortalised’ exhibition and his work is in private collections in the UK, Canada, The US, South Korea, Dubai and New Zealand.
CV
Education:
2015– Completed AHRC funded MA with distinction University of Huddersfield.
1991 - BA Hons, Middlesex University
1985 - Foundation in Art & Design at Cumbria College of Art.
Selected Exhibitions :
July – Sept 2025 – Royal Society of Sculptors Summer Show – Burgh House, London
July – October 2025 ‘Contraptions & Connections’ Heath Robinson Museum, London
July – Sept 2025 – ‘Confluences’ – Cross Lane Projects, Kendal
Feb – June 2024 – ‘Not Natural’ Exhibition – Melbourne Science Museum, Australia
October – December 2023 – ‘Light up’ Light sculpture Turnpike Gallery, Leigh
April 2023 – Selected The Chaiya Arts Awards Exhibition, Oxo Tower, London
January 2023 – Selected Kinetic Biennial Exhibition, Boynton Beach, Florida, USA
January – March 2023 – ‘Source’ exhibition Sunnybank Mills, Leeds
March 2020 - January 2021 ‘Tiny intricacies’ The Morris Museum, New Jersey, USA
October 1919 - June 2020 ‘Drawn to life’ Touring Inspire libraries, Nottingham
October 2019 - February 2020– ‘Articulate’, Programmable swan vertebrae for ‘#Untitled 10’ The Bowes Museum, County Durham
November 2019 - February 2020 ‘Natural Instinct’ Sketch London & Kinetica
September 2018 ‘Immortalised’ – Historic England National Competition, London
September 2017 ‘Marvellous Mechanicals’, Touring kinetic exhibition Art Unpacked
January 2017 Guest artist Lux Helsinki, Finland
May - June 2015 ‘Fall of the Rebel Angels’ – Venice Biennale
May 2014 Solo ‘Machine Anatomy’, Crossley gallery, Dean Clough, Halifax
May - September 2013 Outdoor sculpture Hannah Peschar Sculpture Park - Sussex
October 2012 Kinetica exhibition – Mother, Shoreditch, London
February 2011 Guest artist, Kinetica Art Fair, London.
November 2010 ‘British Art Now ‘– Saatchi Gallery, London.
March 2010 ‘Horn of Plenty’ – Millenium Galleries & Viktor Wynd Fine Art, London.
February 2009 ‘Creatures Great and Small’ - A22 Gallery, Budapest & Rove, London,
August 2008 ‘Domestic Appliance’ - Flowers East, London.
March 2007 Solo exhibition Kinetica Museum, London
2006 - ‘Soundbites & The Untuned Eye’ National Touring Exhibition
January 2004 Group exhibition The Oxo tower, London.
March 2003 Group exhibitionThe Medici Gallery, London.
2001- 2003 ‘Coming to Our Senses’, National touring exhibition
September 1998 – Gallerie Claude Andre, Belgium.
February 1998 – ‘Devious Devices’ National touring kinetic exhibition.
November 1995 – ‘Moving Parts’ Roger Bilcliffe Fine Art, Glasgow.
June 1992 Group exhibition Economist Building, London
March 1992 Group exhibition Royal Festival Hall, London.
Awards :
2024 - Blunden prize
2019 – Arts Council funded research Ars Electronica, Berlin, Amsterdam
2013 – AHRC Scholarship MA
2008 – Juliet Gomperts Trust Award
2006 – Arts Council
2005 - JD Fergusson Award.
Publications :
2021 – The Archaeology of Seeing – Liliana Janik
2016 – Hole & Corner – No 9 – ISBN 772052304009
2013 – Transcultural Montage – ISBN9780857459640
2010 – Assembling Bodies – Art, Science & Imagination – ISBN9780947595180