Karin Jonzen facts for kids

Karin Margareta Jonzen, born Löwenadler, was a British sculptor. She lived from 1914 to 1998. Karin created many sculptures using bronze, terracotta, and stone. Her artworks were often ordered by public groups in Britain and other countries. She is known for her detailed figures and portraits.

About Karin Jonzen

Karin Löwenadler was born in London in 1914. Her parents were from Sweden. She studied art at the Slade School of Art from 1933 to 1936. At Slade, she won awards for both painting and sculpture. She first wanted to be a cartoonist. However, she then decided to focus on sculpture.

She continued her studies in Sweden. She also studied at the City and Guilds Art School in London in 1939. That same year, she won the Prix de Rome. This was a special scholarship for artists to travel and study in Rome. But World War II started, so she could not use the scholarship.

During the war, Karin worked as an ambulance driver. She helped people in Civil Defence. She later got sick with rheumatic fever. After getting better, she decided to focus on realistic sculptures. She felt that modern, abstract art was not the right path for her.

Her Famous Sculptures

After the war, important art collectors bought Karin's sculptures. These included Robert Sainsbury and Kenneth Clark. In 1948, she won an award for women artists. It was called the Feodora Gleichen Award. This led to many big public projects.

The Arts Council asked her to make a sculpture. It was for the new Southbank Centre in London. The World Health Organization also asked her for artworks. These were for their offices in New Delhi and Geneva. In 1951, she made a standing figure for the Festival of Britain. Karin also showed her work in a 1956 exhibition.

In 1968, Karin showed three pieces in a city art show. This led to two new projects for the Corporation of the City of London. One was her 1972 group sculpture, Beyond Tomorrow. It is located outside the Guildhall. Karin was not happy with the first casting of this work. She paid to have it re-made. This new version was much better.

Her other project for the Corporation was The Gardener. This sculpture celebrated the work of the city's gardens committee. The head of that committee also asked Karin to make a bust of Samuel Pepys. This bust is in Seething Lane Garden.

Art in Churches and Galleries

Karin Jonzen was very good at making figures. Her skills were perfect for church sculptures. You can find her figures in Guildford Cathedral and St Mary-le-Bow in London. Selwyn College in Cambridge has her 1958 sculpture. It shows the Ascension with three figures.

She also made many portrait busts. These are sculptures of people's heads and shoulders. She made busts of famous people like Paul Scofield and Malcolm Muggeridge. Her bust of Learie Constantine is at the National Portrait Gallery. The Tate museum has her 1947 Head of a Youth. Other art galleries in Britain and Australia also own her works.

Exhibitions and Teaching

Karin often showed her art at the Royal Academy. She also exhibited with the London Group and the New English Art Club. From 1965 to 1970, she taught art part-time. She lectured at London University. She also taught at the Camden Arts Centre from 1968 to 1972. She had solo art shows in London in 1974 and 1994.

In 1949, Karin was suggested for membership in the Royal Academy of Arts. She was suggested again in 1957. However, she did not get enough votes. Her proposal ended in 1964.

Karin Jonzen was married two times. Her first husband was Basil Jonzen. He was also an artist and art collector. They married in 1944. They even ran an art gallery together for a while. After they divorced, she married Ake Sucksdorff. He was a poet whom she had met in 1938.

Selected Public Artworks

Image	Title / subject	Location and coordinates	Date	Type	Designation	Notes
	Mother and Child	Sydenham Hill Estate, London	1961	Statue		This sculpture was made for the London County Council. It was placed outside a community center. The artwork was reported stolen in 1970.
	The Gardener	London Wall, City of London 51°31′02″N 0°05′33″W / 51.5172°N 0.0925°W / 51.5172; -0.0925 (The Gardener)	1971–1972	Statue
	Beyond Tomorrow	Guildhall Piazza, City Of London 51°30′58″N 0°05′31″W / 51.5161°N 0.0919°W / 51.5161; -0.0919 (Beyond Tomorrow)	1972	Sculptural group
	Pieta	The Church of Sweden, London	1975	Bronze resin statue
	Young Girl	Sloane Gardens, London	1980	Bronze statue
	Samuel Pepys	Seething Lane Garden, London	1983	Bust
	St. Tarcisius	Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church, Maiden Lane, London		Statue
	St. Anne and Mary	St. Anne's Church, Lewes	1990	Statue
	Mother and Child	St Mary-le-Bow , City of London		Statue
	Young Women Contemplating	The Church of Sweden, London		Statue

Group Exhibitions

Karin Jonzen's work was shown in several group exhibitions, including:

• Exhibition of Open Air Sculpture 1948
• Tate Gallery 'The Four Seasons'
• Tate Gallery 'Contemporary Religious Art'
• City of London Festival 1968
• Fieldbourne Galleries (May to June 1974)

Images for kids

• 

  The Gardener (1971), located by London Wall