Q&A: "I hope my work encourages further receptiveness to public art"

Sunday 04 August 2024

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When a new housing development was built on Green Street, one local artist was tasked with developing a lasting, community-centred piece of public art to adorn the buildings.

Jersey-born artist Glen Fox designed the monochrome graphics which can be seen on the side of The Limes.

Express caught up with the 31-year-old to chat about skateboarding, working with students and architects, and public art...

You have a really unique and cool style – what shaped you as an artist? 

When I was young, I went to a barber who always featured different local art on his shop wall.

I liked to look at it and soon began creating my own work on pieces of cardboard or paper, which I then displayed on the streets.

Pictured: Jersey-born artist Glen Fox designed the monochrome graphics which can be seen on the side of The Limes.

I hadn’t seen much public art growing up and I was interested in how people responded to it. Would they take my piece from the street or not? People actually did.

One day I went to the barbershop and he had some of my art up on the wall. It was the first time I had seen my work framed and it gave me the confidence to keep going.

I’m also a skateboarder, which has exposed me to many different graphics and creators.

When you skate, you don’t really know where you’re going or what you’re doing. There’s no solid plan and it generally develops and unfolds naturally. This is something I try to represent through my style.

Most of my output is quite complex and busy, each eye picks up different things and it relates to people in a range of different ways.

Pictured: "Most of my output is quite complex and busy, each eye picks up different things and it relates to people in a range of different ways."

When I’m working with people and they have a vision, I generally simplify my style.

For commissions or in collaborations, often I’m working with others to visually translate a more specific idea.

Each project gives me an opportunity to understand my own work as it relates to the outside world.

I see it as the continued pursuit of the young boy in the barber shop.

How did you get involved producing the artwork on The Limes development?  

My involvement in The Limes development came about due to exposure and the skate community.

I had a double page article in Thrasher magazine, which was about my skating and artwork.

Pictured: "Each project gives me an opportunity to understand my own work as it relates to the outside world."

Mike Waddington, the owner of Waddington Architects, is the visionary behind Limes. His son had seen the magazine article and showed it to him.

Coincidently, Mike was already familiar with some of my mural work around Jersey. He reached out and we met at the firm to discuss the scope of the project.

The firm has a very community conscious and people-centred approach to design, which resonated with me.

I was blessed when he then asked me to collaborate with them.

Could you tell us more about the conception of the designs? 

As part of the project, local students were invited to participate in a series of workshops over several weekends.

I worked with them to develop their confidence and style before briefing them and brainstorming for the project.

They were encouraged to reflect on our identity as a community, the local area and where they found beauty in their surroundings.

Pictured: Glen worked with local students to come up with the ideas for the designs.

During the discussions they articulated a vibrant and untainted understanding of what it is to experience our community and belong to it.

From there the students began drawing, giving visual form to their vision. Their drawings were reflective of the simple things around us that we should be grateful for.

Largely, they depicted things in our community that bring us joy or might help us to experience it. These included public spaces, transport, family, animals, beaches and so on.

In the final workshops we provided the students with several large canvases. These served as mock panels for them to present their finished concepts on.

I was then able to take the panels and uniform them through my own style and expression.

The entire process, from start to finish, meant that I was able to understand and ensure the student’s vision was maintained.

It’s great to now see it at the Limes, in a timeless and professional display of public art.

How was this project different from your previous work? 

The Limes development was the first project I have ever worked on with an architecture firm.

I’ve collaborated on many mural and commission projects over the years.

This, however, was the first time I’ve produced a graphic that was transferred onto vitreous enamel tiles and vinyl for metal balconies.

Pictured: "This was the first time I’ve produced a graphic that was transferred onto vitreous enamel tiles and vinyl for metal balconies."

The panels are very durable and low maintenance, meaning the art will be able to have lasting and quality impact.

The whole experience has given me an appreciation of the massive amount of process and planning that architects routinely undertake.

Despite this, they made it all feel very seamless and I couldn’t have enjoyed working on the project more.

What do you hope to inspire or provoke in people, both residents and others, who see your work? 

Firstly, I hope the students I worked with are very proud and happy with the outcome of their efforts.

I think it’s good for them to see art out on walls, buildings and our streets so that they can continue seeing beauty and being inspired.

Pictured: "I hope my work encourages further conversations and receptiveness to public art."

For residents and others, I hope it conveys the students' positive message around our community.

More generally, I hope my work encourages further conversations and receptiveness to public art.

I would love to see more people expressing themselves and for our community to continue embracing and encouraging creativity.

What are you working on next? 

Currently, I’m really enjoying working with oil paints.

They are the major medium of my latest body of work, which I hope to exhibit in Japan next year.

I’m also exploring mural painting opportunities over in Australia.

Pictured: Glen is currently enjoying working with oil paints. 

Otherwise, I’m always working on and grateful for the different commission opportunities that come through.

I love collaborating on new projects and always encourage anyone interested to get in touch.