BACKGROUND
Ptolemy Mann creates hand-dyed and woven artworks that have become the basis for a modern-day Bauhaus philosophy of art-making underpinned with intelligent colour theory. Her time-consuming and unique approach has evolved over a twenty-five-year period. Exquisite dynamics of colour move across their fine surface, creating a painterly sweep. The term ‘Chromatic Minimalism’ has been applied to her work, and Abstract Expressionism and architecture heavily influence her. In recent years she has been making huge gestural paintings on watercolour paper and canvas exploring the relationship between thread and pigment.
Mann is interested in the relationships between colours and their affective potential. For her, painting is an expression of the material world. Optical effects and natural phenomena inspire her to explore the possibilities of her chosen materials: dye, thread, paper, paint and time. Through their rapid and/or laborious application she creates a multi-layered meditation on light and colour.
Mann makes large-scale, emotional works that express a deep sense of craftsmanship and precision through an abstract narrative. She has completed many site-specific art installations and has exhibited worldwide. She lectures regularly throughout the UK and abroad, writes for the magazine Selvedge, curates, and has received three grants from the Arts Council of England.
Clients and collaborators include: Tate Modern Museum, Paul Hughes Fine Arts, Gallerie Lene Bilgrav, Candid House, Among the Pines Gallery, Art Acumen, Linda Bird Gallery, NHS, Hilton Hotel Group, The Open University, Cunard, KPMG, Derwent, British Land, Stanhope PLC, Bill Amberg, Ercol, Christopher Farr, Sotheby’s, Swankye Hayden Connell Architects, Stanton Williams Architects, Allies Morrison, Johnson Tiles, and Rimowa.
Ptolemy Mann's first book Thread Painting, published by Hurtwood Books, is available now.
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024 - 2025 Woven Colour, Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh, Scotland
2024 Mann and Women - Presented by Gallery Lau, Goldberg Studios, Munich, Germany
2024 A Danish Colour Odyssey, Galleri Lene Bilgrav, Århus, Denmark
2024 Thread Painting - Presented by Taste Contemporary, Cromwell Place, London, UK
2023 Unconscious Color, Findlay Galleries, Palm Beach, USA
2022 Thresholds II, Findlay Galleries, New York, USA
2022 Thresholds, Findlay Galleries, Palm Beach, USA
2019-2024 Circadian Rhythm – Commissioned triptych, Tate Modern Gallery, London, UK
2019 Bauhaus / Handwerk, Gallery Lau, Munich, Germany
2019 Albedo, Old Street Gallery, London, UK
2011-2012 The Architecture of Cloth – Colour and Space, UK
A year long touring exhibition at Ruthin, Dovecot Studios, The Aram Gallery and Harley Galleries finishing at Gloucester Cathedral
2010 Chromatic Minimalism, Gallery Lau, Munich, Germany
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 Continuities: 2000 Years of Textile Arts in South America with Paul Hughes Fine Arts, Lamb Gallery, London, UK
2022 The Blue Hour, Officinet, Copenhagen, Denmark
2022 The Golden Hour, Galleri Lene Bilgrav, Copenhagen, Denmark
2022 Art Genève – Art Fair with Taste Contemporary, Geneva, Switzerland
2021 Odd and Even – A Collection, Presented by Taste Contemporary, Maison Louis Carré, Paris, France
2021 2000 Years of Abstraction with Paul Hughes Fine Arts, Maiden Bradley Chapel, Somerset, UK
2020 Art Genève – Art Fair with Taste Contemporary, Geneva Switzerland
2019 Miart – Art Fair with Taste Contemporary, Milan, Italy
2019 Art Genève – Art Fair with Taste Contemporary, Geneva, Switzerland
2018 The Most Real Thing – New Art Centre, Roche Court, Salisbury, UK
2014 Crafted – The Royal Academy, London, UK
2013 Modern Makers – Presented by Sotheby's, Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, UK
2010 'Inspired By – The Legacy of Anni Albers', Ruthin, Wales
2009 'Significant Colour', The Aram Gallery, London, UK
2007 Hue Line and Form – Curated by Peter Ting, Contemporary Applied Arts, London, UK
2006 The London Art Fair 2005/6 and 2007 with Adrian Sassoon, London, UK
2005 SCOPE – New York, USA
2004 'Collect' Art Fair for Contemporary Objects, V&A Museum, London, UK
2003 Ptolemy Mann-Textiles & Bob Crooks-Glass, Contemporary Applied Arts, London, UK
1999 Design Resolutions, Royal Festival Hall, London, UK
1998 Decorative Arts Today, Bonhams, London, UK
AWARDS AND HONOURS
2024 Shortlisted - "Thread Painting" - Best Art & Architecture Monographs, British Book Design & Production Awards
2021 Artist Residency, The Danish Art Workshops (SVFK)
2011 Arts Council Grant for The Architecture of Cloth, Colour and Space
2011 Homes and Gardens Best Fabric Designer of the Year
2009 Arts Council Grant for Significant Colour
EDUCATION
Royal College of Art, London
Master of Arts in Constructed Textiles
Central St Martins College of Art & Design, London
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Textile Design
