Stephen Chambers RA (b. 1960, London) grew up in a cultural milieu, in company with the likes of journalist Robin Day and painter Roger Hilton. Chambers attended St Martins School of Art (where he was taught by Eileen Cooper) in the early 1980’s. From there he went to live in Rome. Stephen began showing work in the late 1980’s and had held numerous exhibitions in the UK, Europe and North America. Chambers, renowned for his work with portraiture, is currently based in Berlin and London, where his practice explores the intricacies of forms and colour.
Solo exhibitions include The Court of Redonda, Heong Gallery, Downing College, Cambridge University, UK (2018); The Court of Redonda, Ca’Dandolo, Venice, accredited exhibition of 57th Venice Biennale, Italy (2017); Works from the Press, Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, Cornwall, UK (2017); Recent Works, Northern Print, Newcastle, UK (2016); Pickpocket, Atelier Rose & Gray, Hale, Manchester, UK (2015); The Big Country and Other Stories, Pera Museum, Istanbul, Turkey (2014); Black Mirror, Galerie 10, Milan, Italy (2013); The Big Country, Artist’s Laboratory 06, The Royal Academy of Art, London, UK (2012); Prints, The Friends Room, The Royal Academy of Arts, London, UK (2008); Frissiras Museum of Contemporary European Painting, Athens, Greece (2002); Downing College, Cambridge, UK (1999); Kettles Yard, Cambridge, UK (1999).
Group exhibitions include (Upcoming) Mirror, Mirror, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London (2024); Where Art Meets Craft, Petronilla Silver at 8 Holland Street, UK (2018); Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London, UK (2005-18); RA250 at the Fitz, Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, UK (2017); Beneath the Golden Tree, Petronilla Silver at Tremenheere Gallery, Penzance, UK (2017); Royal Academinicians RASE 2007, Group Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London, UK (2007); Frissiras Museum, Athens, Greece (2000); Jerwood Prize, Jerwood Foundation, London, UK (1999); Stephen Chambers and Juan Cruz, Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge, UK (1999); ‘Z’ Project, Whitechapel Art Gallery, & Barbican Gallery, London, UK (1999); ‘44-’99, Bryan Robertson’s Selection, Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge, UK (1999); Whitechapel Open, London, UK (1998); Drawing Itself, The London Institute, UK (1998); Correspondences, The Eagle Gallery, London, UK (1998); The Hare, City Gallery, Leicester (1996); 3 Artists, Plymouth Arts Centre (1996); Eurostar VIP Lounge, Waterloo, London (1996).
Highlights and Collections
Chambers work is represented in five artist monographs, including collaborations with the restaurant, Moro in London, and the poet Jacques Jouet in France. In 2005, He was elected a Royal Academician. In addition to his work, Chambers founded the Bryan Robertson Trust, a charity to assist artists through quiet moments in their career. His work is held in various public collections including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC, The Arts Council of England, The British Museum, The British Council, The National Gallery of Modern Art, China…amongst others. Stephen had designed three sets for the Royal Ballet, most recently ’This House Will Burn’ at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.