Joanna Ham is a British photogram and mixed media artist whose work seeks to capture and express the power of human sentiment. Her pieces – whether based on objects, people or animals - are borne of a desire to harness the emotions that surround us every day.
Joanna gained a BA in Fine Art with a specialism in anatomy at The Ruskin School of Drawing, Oxford University. She has exhibited with Liberty London, The Other Art Fair, London Design Festival, Billy Name, The Serena Morton Gallery and Modern Art Oxford.
In 2016 her work was selected for the National Original Print Exhibition by the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers. And in 2018 she was shortlisted for the Global Rise Art Print Prize and awarded the Aviva Women of Future Arts and Culture Prize.
Joanna has created bespoke artwork for Nike, Hilton, The Berkeley, We Work, Print Club London and Eurostar’s 20th Anniversary. She is also the founder and illustrator of design brand HAM (hammade.com).
For buying and press enquiries please contact info@joannham.com
Projects
- Floral Portraits x Decorex LondonThis October, Joanna's latest collection, 'Floral Portraits', launched at Decorex London. Joanna's new series of photogram screen prints are intricate botanical studies manipulated and redrawn to depict more than just their form. Each flower portrait seeks to subtly characterise human emotion, exploring how we express ourselves and in turn inviting the audience to do the same. Every piece will be read differently, depending on the viewer’s individual context and sensibility. Learn more about t
- National Original Print ExhibitionThe National Original Print Exhibition, established by the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers (RE), is an international exhibition celebrating the best of contemporary printmaking. This year's exhibition features two Joanna Ham pieces, 'Woman with Suitcase' and 'Woman with Hat'. Woman with Suitcase was also used for the catalogue cover. The exhibition rant at the Bankside Gallery, Southbank, London from Wednesday 21 September – Sunday 2 October 2016.
- The Other Art FairWoman Print series launched at The Other Art Fair 2017. Process is key to Joanna’s work. Each piece starts as a mixed media collage which Joanna uses to create a monochrome photogram - a darkroom method where the paper template is exposed directly to light. This unpredictable stage unlocks the image creating a vivid abstract silhouette that Joanna then deconstructs and rebuilds by hand using digital paintbrushes. Once the piece is complete, it’s transferred to silk screen and the final limited
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Work history
FounderHAM
London, United KingdomFull Time
Aside from her freelance illustration work, Joanna is also the founder of design brand HAM.
HAM follows the contented life of Rabbit – capturing his daily adventures, sporting escapades and social outings in silhouette form on a range of thoughtfully crafted wares.
Established in 2011, HAM’s minimal aesthetic seeks to add a serious edge to its playful subject matter. Childhood nostalgia and a fascination with the everyday are key themes that continue to inform HAM’s growing range of animal motifs, all of which have been created by London-based designer Jo Ham and brought to life by talented makers in the UK.
HAM’s debut homeware collection of ceramics and fabrics were first picked up by Liberty and have since been exhibited in London, New York and Paris, featured on the pages of international magazines and resided on the shelves of leading retailers in over thirty countries around the world, including Colette, Topshop, Conran, Centre Pompidou and West Elm.
Skills
- Illustration
- Book Illustration
- Editorial Illustration
- Drawing
- Retail Windows
- Collaborations
- Product Design
- Brand Strategist
- Business Owner
- Collage
Education
R
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BFA Fine ArtRusking School of Art, Oxford University
- Oxford, United Kingdom
Awards
Global Rise Print PrizeRise Art
ShortlistedA
A
Arts and Culture Prize 2018Aviva Women of Future
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