“Creating artworks allows me to experience the layers of my own consciousness.”
Jo Hummel is a British artist known for her innovative work with paper as a medium to explore themes of consciousness, identity, and human experience. Born in 1982 in Hampshire, England, she studied at Kingston University London (2001-2004) and the Royal College of Art London (2004-2006). With a background in art and fascination for anthropology, Hummel’s practice draws on psychological and cultural narratives, using the humble, fragile material of paper to create intricate, immersive works. Her art blends minimalism with profound emotional and intellectual depth, inviting viewers to reflect on the underlying structures that shape individual and collective lives.
Hummel’s creative process is characterized by a delicate balance between deliberate intention and spontaneous discovery. Using techniques such as collage, layering, and weaving, she transforms simple sheets of paper into complex visual statements that evoke a sense of introspection and emotional resonance. Her work challenges perceptions of fragility and permanence, highlighting the infinite possibilities contained within the simplest materials. Through her art, Hummel encourages a deeper engagement with the intangible aspects of human life, offering a unique perspective on the intersection of materiality and consciousness.
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SING OUR WAY HOME, 2025 -
DEEP TIME I, 2025
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DEEP TIME II, 2025
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DEEP TIME III, 2025
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DEEP TIME IV, 2025
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DEEP TIME V, 2025
Jo Hummel’s work is deeply rooted in reductionism, evident through symbols and geometry.
This exploration of minimalism mirrors ancient spiritual concepts such as Sunya, the Sanskrit term for void and infinity, which speaks to the balance between emptiness and possibility. Also evident is her interest in the principles of sacred geometry, natural cycles and human rituals.
Colour assumes a pivotal role in Hummel’s work, valued both for its subjective sensory impact and its psychologically transcending qualities.
Speaking about the making of the work, Hummel describes her chosen material (paper) as domestic and ephemeral, an everyday surface manipulated with urgency using household tools such as scissors and knives.
Created using primitive building methods such as weaving, marquetry, joinery, and layering, the sculptural paintings are formed through a careful balance of shape, colour, form, and material, generating a fragmented spectrum of the human condition.
The nature of collage is that each work is in constant flux. Working within the dependable environment of ritualistic systems and repetition, Hummel explores the unpredictable nature of spontaneity, each piece serving as a passage into the realm of a subconscious exploratory activity. In doing so each painting contains something profoundly personal from the artist, knowingly intertwined with formal abstraction.
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RESIDENCY AT CABUY PART III : SIDE BY SIDE
GROUP EXHIBITION WITH FORWART GALLERY March 14 - 15, 2026Macadam Gallery presents its residency at Maison Cabuy in Mechelen. The house carries time in its walls. It holds silence, traces of lives, shifting light. Each room has its own...Read more -
THE FOLD
A GROUP EXHIBITION July 1 - September 12, 2025Featuring artists like Ira Svobodová, Jo Hummel, Åsa Johansson, François Bonnel, Sali Muller and Jan Kaláb, The Fold is a dynamic group exhibition that celebrates folding as a powerful force...Read more
