Josephine Wall facts for kids

Josephine Wall (born May 1947 in Farnham, Surrey, England) is an English fantasy artist and sculptor. She is famous for her colorful and imaginative paintings that often feature magical creatures, goddesses, and dreamlike scenes. Her art is loved by many around the world.

About Josephine Wall

Early Life and Art Beginnings

Josephine Wall grew up in Farnham and Parkstone. She studied art at Bournemouth College. After her studies, she worked at Poole Pottery. There, she designed and painted special pottery pieces called Delphis Ware. She also created pottery figures, including characters from Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and creatures from myths. Some of her early pottery work is even featured in a book about the history of Poole Pottery.

Artistic Style and Influences

Josephine Wall's paintings are mostly inspired by the famous artist Arthur Rackham. He was known for his beautiful illustrations of fairy tales. She also gets ideas from surrealism artists like René Magritte and Salvador Dalí, who created dreamlike and unusual art. The romantic style of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood also influences her work. Her art often shows a mix of fantasy, nature, and mystical elements.

Exhibitions and Worldwide Reach

Josephine Wall's art has been shown in many places. In 1974, some of her paintings were exhibited in Teheran and Tokyo. Her very first solo art show was in Swindon in 1975.

In 1990, a TV show on Southern Television featured Josephine and her paintings. This helped more people learn about her art. A few years later, in 1993, she signed deals with companies in Britain and Switzerland. These companies started publishing her work as prints, posters, and cards. This meant her art could be shared and enjoyed all over the world.

Her art is also used on many different products. Since 1996, her images have appeared on greeting cards, calendars, puzzles, mugs, and even fabric. This shows how popular her unique style is.

In 1998, five of her original paintings were chosen for a special exhibition in London called "Art of the Imagination." She later joined the society of artists with the same name. Her work has also been shown at the New York Art Expo. Pop singer Britney Spears has even used some of Josephine's images on her website and owns some of her prints.

Key Moments in Her Career

• 1967: After studying Fine Art, Josephine worked at Poole Pottery. She designed and painted pottery and created animal figures.
• 1974: Her larger paintings were shown in art exhibitions in Teheran and Tokyo.
• 1975: She held her first solo art exhibition in Swindon.
• 1990: She had a second solo exhibition in Bournemouth. A TV show in the UK featured her and her paintings.
• 1993: She signed contracts to publish her art as prints, posters, and cards for people worldwide.
• 1996: She signed a licensing agreement. This led to her images appearing on many products like cards, puzzles, and mugs.
• 1998: Five of her original works were chosen for a special exhibition in London. She joined the "Art of the Imagination" society.
• 2004: Her art was shown at the New York Art Expo for the first time.
• 2005: Her first book, The Fantasy World of Josephine Wall, was released at the New York Art Expo.
• 2006: She created a series of "Zodiac" images, which became very popular.