Jim Unsworth 1958, b. British

Jim Unsworth was born in Wigan in 1958.

In 1994, Jim Unsworth moved to a studio in Bow, East London, a transition that marked a significant development in his work. The large abstract sculptures of his earlier years gradually gave way to more figurative pieces, often inspired by the world of the circus. Narrative became increasingly important, with the elephant emerging as a recurring and defining motif. These themes found expression in both monumental welded steel sculptures and smaller, modelled works cast in bronze.

Jim's fascination with elephants is rooted in childhood memories and early encounters with the circus. He recalls the sense of wonder he felt on first seeing an elephant - a creature that appeared at once ungainly and immensely sophisticated. This enduring fascination continues to inform much of his work.

After studying Fine Art at the University of Reading, Jim spent fourteen years working in a Greenwich studio alongside a number of sculptors who became known for their welded steel constructions. In 1991, he exhibited in Kunst Europa at the Kunstverein in Kirchzarten, Freiburg, as part of a nationwide exhibition of contemporary European artists in Germany.

The relationship between humans and animals, particularly elephants, remains central to Jim's practice. He uses the elephant as a powerful metaphor through which to explore themes of freedom and control, wildness and domestication, partnership and individuality. His sculptures invite viewers to reflect not only on humanity's relationship with animals, but also on our relationship with ourselves.