Jon C Archdeacon: The Studio 'Nest'

Actually, as I write this, I’m on a train bound for Scotland. Exploring more of the UK has been something I’ve wanted to do for a while, especially while I’m living in London. At the moment, I’m completing an artist residency with Studio West, which means I’m fortunate enough to spend most days working from my studio in Elephant & Castle.

During my time in the city, I’ve been collaborating with Jon Archdeacon on a newsletter of sorts—a space to reflect on my practice and share what I hope are interesting thoughts, readings, and conversations about art and life.

My fascination with materials led me to AP Fitzpatrick (An art materials store in Bethnal Green, London) where I met Jon and the other artists who run the shop. Detailed conversations about my practice led, inevitably to this collaboration of written and photographic essays.

I am extremely grateful to have this kind of place to consult and ask the most specific questions about what I am working on. As I was preparing for my most recent exhibition in Chicago with PAGODA RED, I became an even more frequent visitor to purchase materials and to ask for advice. I was in a particularly intense phase of art-making. This is a pattern that seems to define much of my practice—periods of concentrated production followed by stretches of gathering, observing, and exploring. Jon, who is also a photographer, visited my studio during preparations for the upcoming exhibition to document the space in all its complexity—part workspace, part ecosystem, part nest. The photographs throughout this post were taken during that visit.

While the finished paintings and exhibitions seem to get the most attention, it has been wonderful to reflect upon and document the studio practice both conceptually and technically. Through our discussions, there have been many themes that I would like to explore further throughout a series of written updates. First and foremost, as I literally pull into the station in Edinburgh, it seems that I cannot deny my nomadic disposition. I hope to start this journal as a way to both explore this tendency of mine but also as a way to stay connected with friends and family around the world through writings on my art, studio practice, ecological insights, and other unexpected discoveries.

P.S. Please feel free to reach out for further discussions, to share book/article recommendations, or if you’d like to collaborate on any future writings :)