Jon Setter’s work is produced as part of an ongoing exploration that attempts to reveal the unseen aspects that shape how we experience urban spaces and architecture.
Often working with subjects discovered by chance on unprescribed walks, Jon documents from peculiar viewpoints the details people walk past but may not consciously observe. He methodically organises the urban vernacular’s repeated colours, patterns, materials and textures to develop an abstract expression of space. This results in unique images in public space, composing graphics, colours, and unique combinations of perspective and objects in a harmonic but surprising manner.
He hopes that cutting through the chaos of our urban surroundings and presenting them as simple and clean compositions can help expand our reading and understanding of the spaces we interact with most. Jon was born in Detroit, Michigan, and lives between New York City and Sydney.
EDUCATION
Master of Fine Arts, National Art School, 2018
Bachelor of Fine Arts, College for Creative Studies, 2011
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
The Ballarat Text – The Ballarat Foto Biennale, Ballarat 2021
The Urban Text – Van Rensburg Galleries, NSW 2021
The Urban Text – Galerie Minimal, Berlin 2020
The Urban Text – Wedge Gallery, Sydney, 2019
The Urban Text – Koskela Gallery, Sydney, 2019
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Exploration – Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne, 2020
Luxembourg Art Prize – The Pinacothèque, Luxembourg, 2019
Documenting Spaces – Layer MX, Mexico City, 2019
Grand Opening – Galerie Robertson Ares, Montreal, 2019
MNML – Galerie Minimal, Berlin November, 2018
Released – National Art School, Sydney, 2018
RPS Gallery x Life Framer – RPS Gallery, Tokyo, 2018
Officine Fotografiche x Life Framer – Officine Fotografiche, Milan, 2018
Clampart x Life Framer – ClampArt Gallery, New York, 2018
Standard Vision LA Live Video Display – Los Angeles, 2018
The Art of Collecting – Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne, 2018
Instagram Project CCP Salon – Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne, 2017
ACP Invite Group Exhibition – 7WS Chambers, Sydney 2017
FAIRS
The Other Art Fair – Sydney, 2021
Papier – With Robertson Ares Gallery, Montreal, 2020
The Other Art Fair – Melbourne, 2019
Sydney Contemporary – With The National Art School, Sydney, 2018
The Other Art Fair – With The National Art School, Sydney, 2018
AWARDS
The Luxembourg Art Prize (2019, finalist)
International Photography Awards (2019, honorable mention)
International Color Awards (2018, honorable mention)
Life Framer Photography Prize (2018, 2nd place)
Greenway Art Prize (2017, finalist)
PUBLICATIONS
Icon (UK)
Red Milk
The University Times
Noice Magazine
ARTICLES/INTERVIEWS
Aesthetica Magazine
The Vault Sydney
South China Morning Post
FFOTO
Photography in Berlin
Life Framer
Garlerie Minimal Berlin
Art at Berlin
Koskela
Seen Magazine
Design Fizz
The Visual Voices
