EXHIBITIONS |

EXHIBITION at the URBAN SOUP GALLERY, Tunbridge Wells, UK

27th September – 9th November 2014

The Exhibition opened on Saturday 27th September and during the busy preview night three pieces of work had already sold. The show also features our new line in bespoke furniture with the ‘Heaven’ sofa chair, a limited edition of 25 only. Occupying both downstairs rooms and the corridor of the Urban Soup Gallery, the Exhibition is on until the 9th November. For directions and opening times please check the Urban Soup website by clicking here.

EAST END ARTS EXHIBITION, Riverhead, New York – August 2014

Johnny has submitted his artwork ‘EXO’ to the 3rd Annual National Competition & Art Show themed ‘The Creative Process’. Although the artwork has already been sold at the opening evening, it can still be viewed at the Gallery in Riverhead, New York, until 24th September 2014. For further information please visit the East End Arts website by clicking here

Johnny’s artwork ‘Exo’ – currently on view at the East End Arts, Riverside, New York

‘Exo’ close-up (click to enlarge)

‘Exo’ is part of Johnny’s latest artwork ‘Atmosphere Deconstructed’, which shows each stage of the creative process, by separating the linked layers that create the final image.

Each piece, from the initial studio photograph, to the end result is in effect its own work of art. Johnny has not deconstructed the process before, and has found it both refreshing and revealing.

Shown separately they are individually titled works on a common theme. But together as one they make up ‘Atmosphere’ – ‘Tropo’, ‘Strato’, ‘Meso’, ‘Thermo’ and ‘Exo’:

‘STANDING ON THE SHORE’ – March 2013

Standing on the shore was a small exhibition of images created using horizontal lines to depict the beauty and ever changing landscape of the sea. By removing shapes normally associated with current, waves and wind Johnny wanted to explore the notion of the viewer asserting these patterns back into an image created solely with straight lines.

‘GUNS AND PLANES’ – September 2012

Going back to his pop art roots, Johnny Cotter produced a series of images, which through the medium of pop art created a social statement and critique on modern living and culture. With social boundaries being ever more pushed, and the unacceptable becoming mainstream, Johnny wanted to explore the current fascination with firearms and weapons of destruction.

Johnny Cotter Guns And Planes 1

GALLERY OPEN NIGHTS

This is a very small selection of the exhibitions, events and open evenings of my work over the last three years…

‘AS SIMPLE AS A KISS’ – April 2012

‘As simple as a Kiss’, an exhibition to explore how lips give passion and sexuality to an image. Johnny wanted to explore how the shape of a lip can give an entirely different perspective to a picture. Without having the eyes and facial expressions as a focal reference, the viewer is left to ponder the feelings of the subject, through the expressions of the lips.
This exhibition also marked the first time that Johnny had directly printed images onto aluminum board.

EXHIBITION AT ‘I SCREAM & ROCK’ IN MARGATE – 25th November to the 24th December 2011.

Here’s what Mark the owner at ‘iScream & Rock’ says,…

‘iScream & Rock’ Margate is proud to present the stunning work of Folkestone’s Johnny Cotter.

Johnny’s art is ultra-modern, smashing the iconography of the 20th century and dragging the neon hinterlands of our 24/7 society into the 21st century. He is also firmly established as a gallerist, curator, and majordomo in groovy Folkestone. The exhibition includes new Margate inspired pieces produced in collaboration with i Scream & Rock owner Mark Downing. This ‘Rockotta’ range using trademark Art landmarks to create a unique collection of uber pop imagery.

The show runs until Christmas Eve with a private view on Friday 25th November.

L/CPL William Cotter VC – August 2011

Working with a another local Artist Ken Fisher, Johnny Cotter collaborated, to erect a commemorative plaque to L/CPL William Cotter VC who died in World War I. William Cotter was no relation to Johnny Cotter, but Johnny felt that a fitting public tribute should be erected so that the local people better understood the actions and bravery of L/CPL William Cotter VC. The piece has been erected in Sandgate Village Kent.

FOLKESTONE ART ON SHOW AT LONDON ST PANCRAS STATION – August 2011

TRADERS benefit from increased footfall as a result of the Triennial and the ‘Inferential Grin’ could enjoy even more, thanks to travelers using London St Pancras Station.

A piece of work by Folkestone artist Johnny Cotter is being used as a sign at the station, to promote the Inferential Grin and its artists, placed in a different location every day, advertising the current arts festivals. Artist and ‘Inferential Grin’ organiser Johnny Cotter hopes the massive footfall at the station will bring even more people to the festival.

He said: “I’ve had comments on Twitter from people saying how good it looks. We’ve had people visiting as a result of it, which is very good news and it seems to have been a real hit. St Pancras told me about a million people walk past it every week, which is fantastic, and it moves every day so different people see it. I think people are impressed and hopefully even more people will come to Folkestone.

The sign was put up at the beginning of June and will stay in place until the end of the festival in September 2011.

Johnny Cotter St Pancras 2

FRINGE ARTWORK STARTS TO BRIGHTEN FOLKESTONE’S STREETS – June 17th 2011

PREPARATIONS are well underway for the Triennial Fringe festival in Rendezvous Street, Folkestone. Artwork is springing up over the shopping and restaurant area ahead of the launch of the three-month-long event.

Called ‘Inferential Grin’ – an anagram of ‘Triennial Fringe’ – the festival will showcase artistic talent from Kent with the theme of ‘Right Here Right Now’. Inferential Grin is the brainchild of Johnny Cotter, a Rendezvous Street Gallery owner and artist who wanted a festival to run alongside the Folkestone Triennial, which starts soon.

Among the works to be erected so far are Lucy Wear’s ‘I Need You’ piece featuring images of David Cameron and Nick Clegg and a huge red heart between them. Above Mr Cotter’s gallery hangs a massive piece called ‘Frenzy’ by Dee Taylor.

Attached to cafe Sweet Rendezvous is an eye-catching montage of faces called ‘Kingdom’ by Jack Sarwar. A launch party, sponsered by Shepherd Neame and Terlingham Vineyards will be held at 6.30pm in Rendezvous Street on June 17 to celebrate the launch of ‘Inferential Grin’ and members of the public are welcome to attend. The Herald is a media partner to the festival.

Mr Cotter who shot to internet fame this year when his image of David Beckham nailed to a cross attracted police attention. Mr Cotter used the publicity to plug the ‘Inferential Grin’. The Fringe has also secured two prominent advertising sites at St Pancras high-speed railway station to lure people to the town. Officially, ‘Inferential Grin’ runs from June 25 until September 25.

The event has also secured gallery space in local premises including high-end gift retailer MODA and Googies Art Cafe. Mr Cotter said: “It’s the culmination of a lot of hard work and the co-operation, help and enthusiasm of local businesspeople and the publicity provided by the Folkestone Herald. “We are hoping to complement the great things on offer from the Triennial. Its focus is to bring folk in with their big name artists while we’re focusing on purely local talent from Kent.”

THREADNEEDLE PRIZE COMPETITION – June 2010

Johnny Cotter’s Sculpture ‘Government’ takes part in the 2010 Mall Galleries Threadneedle Prize Competition for paintings and sculptures.

Michael Sandle RA, fellow of the Royal British Society of Sculptors, passed Johnny’s ‘Government’ for the final, however he needed two more passes from the other judges, which he did not get.