Biography and Rationale:
Chandler’s work focuses on the most dramatic, a transition, the tipping point, be it physical or mental. Chandler strives for perfection in the forms he creates. This has been his way of processing his own debilitating chronic illness. The poses he captures are held for fractions of seconds, this tension is more often felt than seen. Not only are these moments of power transitory but the career spans of these elite athletes are also fleeting, the human condition trends in one direction, to eventual demise. In his initial body of work the pieces are all prefixed with "Poise and", when spoken, this sounds like poisoned adding to the rhetoric that health is fleeting. The machine-like forms created, feel removed from this human condition and the use of materials that will endure far beyond a human lifespan emphasises this.
Chandler’s unique style has led to recognition in the art world. Since 2018 Chandler has focused mainly on large public works of art, these pieces can now be seen in towns and cities across the UK.
The inspiration for his works come from the greats of figurative sculpture, from Subirachs and Naum Gabo with their geometric portrayals to Giacometti and the Futurists with their desire to capture movement.
Commissions and Public Works
2022 Birmingham 2022 festival - 2.5m Stainless sculpture
2021 Private company: 3m tall horse and jockey, stainless steel and bronze
Moto Hospitality: 1.4m long bronze sculpture
2020 Telford Council: 2m tall bronze sculpture
2019 Telford Centre: 3m tall bronze sculpture
Museum Collections
Birmingham Museum
Gallery Representation -
Soden Collection Shrewsbury
Forward Gallery Birmingham
Lamberts Fine Art Stratford
Bursaries - The Arts Society Wrekin - Frank Hartill Arts Award - Telford Council - Young persons bursary scheme
Selected Publications - Birmingham's Public Art, The Guardian, The BBC, ITV, The Sloan, RBSA Blog, Average Art Magazine, Birmingham Living Magazine, Hidden Talents International arts magazine, Wellington Rotary, Shropshire Living Magazine. Smethwick Apprentice by Roger Aston
Lectures/Public Speaking - Telford Centre, European Medicines Agency, Wellington Rotary, Elmhurst School for Dance, Telford Business Club
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2024 - Soulton Hall
2023 - Soden Collection
2019 - Open Garden (Hampstead)
Selected Exhibitions: Group
2025 Shrewsbury Arts Trail
The Soden Collection (Shropshire) Ongoing
Forward Gallery (Birmingham) - Ongoing
Lamberts - (Stratford upon Avon) - Ongoing
Soulton Hall (Shropshire) - Ongoing
2024 Shrewsbury Arts Trail
Sculpture at Doddinton
Colley Ison Gallery (Birmingham)
2023 Salvidor Dali and Jacob Chandler - Shrewsbury Arts Trail
Sculpture by the Lakes (Dorchester)
Sculpture at Beaulieu
2022 Excellence of Youth (Cambridge)
Art for Youth - The Mall Galleries (London)
Art for Cure (Suffolk)
Sculpture By the Lakes (Dorchester)
Cotswold Sculpture Park
2021 Shrewsbury Museum
2020 Art For Cure Glemham Hall (Online)
2019 RBSA Open Media (Birmingham)
European Medical Agency (London)
2018 The Mall Galleries (London)
The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists
2017 The Mall Galleries (London)
The Figure (Burgh House, Hampstead)
Royal Birmingham Society of Artists - Highly Commended
Konstantinoupoleos (Athens)
2016 Room 7 (Athens)
A3 Gallery (Moscow)
5th Base Gallery (London)
The Excellence of Youth (Suffolk)
Lacey Contemporary Gallery (London)
James Oliver Gallery (Philadelphia)
Ground Floor Gallery (New York)