Jo Holdsworth

Lost in the City contemporary figurative painting by Jo Holdsworth

2020

Jo Holdsworth is a leading London-based Award Winning Contemporary artist. Known for her elongated and reflected figures often in blue and grey tones, Jo’s work has been on book, album and magazine covers and is enjoyed by collectors throughout the world. 

Often embracing themes such as hope and loyalty, Jo’s life-affirming paintings attract a strong following. Her striking and unique paintings have bold, cinematic appeal as well as being admired for their distinct colour palette and loose, spontaneous brush work. Jo’s artistic influences are far ranging. They include the American realist painters of the early twentieth century, in particular George Bellows known for his striking depictions of New York urban life, and the atmospheric paintings of Edward Hopper. Jo also cites LS Lowry as an important inspiration. Other influences include early Twentieth-Century photography and Jo refers to seeing Paul Strand’s photograph, Wall Street, 1915, as a pivotal moment, confirming to her the role of artist as onlooker. 

Represented by several London galleries and exhibiting widely, including in highly acclaimed solo and group shows, Jo accolades are extensive. She was awarded Royal Arts Prize Visitor’s Choice Award Winner and her joint Award Winners’ Show took place at the Royal Opera Arcade Gallery, Pall Mall, London in March 2020. Jo was one of 30 best selling international artists for the Affordable Art Fair’s summer exhibition in 2021 and featured in their blog called ‘Five Artists You Need to Know’. Her highly successful Solo Show at 60 Threadneedle Street in the City of London in January 2024 was met with glowing reviews and featured in the Sunday Times, Evening Standard, City AM, Arts and Collections and FAD magazines.

“It’s the mixture of calm beauty and ambiguity throughout all of Jo Holdsworth’s paintings that mesmerises the viewer." London art critic Tabish Khan