JONATHAN ROSEN
Jonathan Rosen is a NYC-based conceptual and appropriation artist whose contemporary works are expressed through collage on canvas. Pulling inspiration from his former life as an advertising creative where he manufactured dreams for consumers, he now explores those authentic desires and aspirations that people keep hidden away.
His work is in international collections in New York, Sydney, London, Paris and Toronto including The Livestrong Foundation. Additionally he’s a founder and CEO of an art-technology startup, launching late 2015, that will help artists (of all disciplines) find sought after career opportunities.
If there was one piece of art you could feature in, which would it be and why?
I would love be part of one of Ryan McGinley’s annual summer road trips and have him photograph me jumping off a trampoline with enough pyrotechnics behind me to make me fly to capture one more fleeting moment of my unadulterated youth.
Who inspires you and why? An artist, a family member, someone current or historical?
My partner (and fellow artist) Tom Smith, who always knew I was an artist, even when I did not.
What are your cultural aspirations? What do you still want to see, do and achieve?
I would love to live in again in other countries, not permanently, but create mini 3-month residencies in unique, creatively rich spots. Before I was an artist, I was a frustrated commercial filmmaker. So now that art has given me my creative voice back and I see a feature film or two in the horizon. When I was kid I always wanted to be an Astronaut, while I’ll never have that occupation, I’m hopeful I’ll get the opportunity to orbit the earth.
What are your favourite cultural cities in the world and why?
I lived in Amsterdam for three years and upon every return I’ve noticed how extremely creative and inspired I feel there. It’s some kind of beautiful bizarre time-warped world with crazy characters and magic lurking down every canal and cobble-stoned street.
What are you up to at the moment and where can we find it?
I just wrapped a two-man show called The Knot in Sydney, Australia and now working on my first European show during Art Basel Switzerland in collaboration with The Box. This will be an exciting pop-up art club which will showcase my work by day and have electrifying performances by theatre of varieties. The Box by night. I’m thrilled to work with Simon Hammerstein and The Box on my Art Basel Switzerland debut. I’m also working on a potential commission project with the Livestrong Foundation. All this while overseeing the final programming development of my start-up platform.