Jill Berelowitz

Through Jill's work we see an evident appreciation of the classics of figurative sculpture but also a renewal and reinvention taking this most ancient of artistic practices to new heights.

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1955, Jill Berelowitz studied sculpture, first under Karen Jarozynska and then at the Johannesburg School of Art. Jill moved from her native South Africa to London 25 years ago and is one of the capital’s most innovative sculptors, known for her bronze, steel and optical resin works.

Jill Berelowitz is an artist who embraces the sensuous, the organic, undulating lines and unbroken flow, the tactile nature and the magnetic presence of the sculptural form. All of these traits and all of the complexity that they entail can only be achieved through the age-old alchemical process of bronze casting. It is through this deep relationship to a tradition that dates back to 3,500 BC that Jill is able to realise sculptures that reflect human nature, the interconnectedness of relationships and the beauty and strength of the female form. An understanding and respect for the multi-layered process is key. From the pouring of molten bronze to the chasing (whereby any seams or unrefined areas are smoothed and perfected) to the delicate process of adding colour and depth to the sculpture through patination, the artist is present at each stage and in constant dialogue with the artisans who bring an idea to life. Therefore, casting in bronze is the collaborative application of many skilled hands to realise a single vision. 

 Recently Jill’s ‘Tree of Life’ was featured in the Ann-Marie Powell designed official Royal Horticultural Society’s garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2016. Her high profile commissions include a monumental commission for Shakespeare’s New Place in Stratford-upon-Avon, her ‘Diving Girl’, which was positioned at the entrance to London 2012 the Olympic Village, life-size ‘Pair Oar’ rowers at Henley-on-Thames, Investec Challenge, Goldsmith’s Guild, Unilever, Old Mutual and ‘Core Femme’ in Cavendish Square for the Westminster City of Sculpture Festival.