Jon Rees
Jon Rees is a multidisciplinary artist; he works across photography, drawing, painting, film, graffiti and sound. Jon’s experience of having been a homeless resident in the very same building which is now Kindred Studios, has lead to deep reflections that he has used in his creative practice to grow, heal and to help heal others.
Watch Jon’s short film about his journey from Homelessness to Kindred here
Jon graduated in 2009 from the Byam Shaw School at Central St Martins during the austerity crisis. He and his fellow students protested the antiquated, bureaucratic environment in which they were learning by occupying the art school for a week. In that time, they created an alternative, 24-hour art school, one in which they tutored and encouraged each other, collaborated, ate together and made communal decisions. Jon’s commitment to community continues at Kindred Studios, where he regularly teaches, mentors and contributes to our inspiring spaces. With Kindred’s grant from the Lottery’s Awards for All Community Fund, Jon delivered his Changing Perspectives, a series of seven-week photography sessions, designed to alleviate anxiety, to over 70 NHS staff suffering from distress after Covid. Jon works with the homeless and more recently on a series of trial sessions with a group of young students from Kindred.
“My vision I suppose is to be part of an art movement which is open to the whole community, that isn’t just there to produce the next Turner Prize winner, which isn’t concerned about the art market but is outward looking and accessible to all.”