Ed Chapman is a contemporary UK artist specialising in ceramic mosaics. In his instantly recognisable style the artist achieves incredibly detailed results, painstakingly creating his subjects using thousands of fragments of ceramic tile.

A largely self-taught artist based in the North-West of the UK, Ed began creating mosaic works over a decade ago, fascinated with bringing a contemporary twist to an ancient medium. He became a professional artist in 2001.

Originally he worked with paper, creating a series of portrait mosaics, whilst at the same time experimenting with cityscapes. Looking for a new challenge, Ed moved on to glass, metal, and ceramic tile, eventually settling on the latter as his medium of choice.

Influenced by artists such as Chuck Close, Robert Rauschenberg, and Jamie Reid, Ed also finds inspiration for his works in the music of bands like the Sex Pistols and The Doors, as well as in everyday articles such as magazines and televised images.

Ed strives to create intricate photo-realist portraits set against contrasting bold colour backdrops, forcing the viewer to question if his mosaics are, in fact paintings. Each work comprises thousands of ceramic tile pieces, all cut and fastened by hand, and impeccably finished.

Whilst continuing to focus on his core subject matter of portraiture, Ed has recently begun revisiting his torn paper works again, and has produced a series of 3D works, to critical acclaim.  The artist is also available to commission and can create personal portraits from life or photography.

Ed has exhibited throughout the UK and across Europe and the US with further exhibitions planned for 2008/09 in New York and Hong Kong.  His work has a number of high profile collectors including world-renowned musicians, sports stars and television personalities and has received substantial national and international press coverage.  Ed’s work has been featured in a number of publications including 'Diana in Art' (Mem Mehmet), Expression Magazine (USA), Art of England Magazine, and The Daily Mail, together with BBC television and radio.

Exhibitions

2008
Artzu Gallery, Manchester
Artifex Gallery, Birmingham
The Green Gallery, Dublin
The Cat Street Gallery, Hong Kong
Tea and Sympathy, New York, USA
Cheryl Hazan Gallery, New York, USA                                                                                                                                                                                 Villa del Arte, Barcelona, Spain                                                                                                  

2007
Artzu Gallery, Manchester
Artifex Gallery, Birmingham
April: “People are People” Christie Hospital, Manchester (solo exhibition)
January: Liverpool Academy of Art

2006
September - October: "Parental Guidance" Artzu Gallery, Manchester
July: "Off the Wall" Cetra Gallery, Wirral
April - May: "Heroes & Villains" Artzu Gallery, Manchester (solo exhibition)

2005
November: "BIG Shots" Artzu Gallery, Manchester
July: Liverpool Academy of Art (solo exhibition)
March: Affordable Art Fair, London

2004
August: Mendocino Art Center, Mendocino, California, USA (solo exhibition)
March: View Gallery, Liverpool

2003
October: Earth Gallery, Garberville, California, USA (solo exhibition)
July-August: Liverpool Academy of Art
June: Loughborough Town Hall, Loughborough, Leicestershire (solo exhibition)
May-July: Grosvenor Museum, Chester

2002
August: Liverpool Academy of Art
March: Mathew Street Gallery, Liverpool

2001
November: Four Counties Exhibition, Stoke-on-Trent
July-August Liverpool Academy of Art
June: Atkinson Library and Exhibition Centre, Southport

2000
October: Birkdale Library, Birkdale, Southport
July-August Liverpool Academy of Art, Liverpool