Biography of Jim Dine
Often using accessible imagery Jim Dine’s work is dripping in symbolism and childlike nostalgia. Although he can be considered a Pop artist, his resolute determination to do things his way has carved out a highly individualistic and varied body of work. Hugely prolific he has produced paintings, drawings, sculpture, limited edition prints, performances, as well as poetry.
Born in 1935 in Ohio Jim Dine studied under abstract painter Paul Chidlaw at The Art Academy of Cincinnati. In the 1960s Dine was instrumental in the legendary Happenings occurring in New York alongside Claes Oldenburg and Allan Kaprow. Soon he would attach brushes and other objects of significance concerning his working practice to his canvases. In 1962 he participated in the ground-breaking show “New Paintings of Common Objects” alongside Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol, the first genuine Pop Art exhibition. However, he always felt more kinship with the Neo-Dada artists like Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg than the Andy Warhol led Pop artists. In 1967 he moved to London with his wife and three sons but returned to America four years later. Throughout his career he would often repeat motifs such as hearts, tools and bathrobes. Often in several mediums, the process of repetition would rob the common image or motif of its public sentiment and instead douse it in the artist’s own emotional and aesthetic intentions. He never shied away from using bright bold color knowing that simple images can provoke a subtle but emotive response. The later-half of his career has seen a greater focus on photography as well as a return to figures from his childhood, such as the character of Pinocchio.
Collected around the world, Jim Dine’s work can be found in the permanent collection of the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York as well as MoMA New York and Tate Modern in London. In 2015 Dine gave over 200 limited edition art prints to the British Museum in London.
