A young man with dark hair and a beard, wearing a gray hoodie and a dark jacket, standing in a workshop next to a wooden sculpture of a gymnast in a leap. The sculpture is crafted with geometric, faceted shapes. Behind them is a green plastic sheet, and to the right is a metallic adjustable desk lamp. In the bottom right corner is a logo with the text "EDS EHLERS-DÄNLOS SUPPORT UK".

Statement and Rationale:

My geometric figurative pieces focus on movement, transition, tipping points, be it physical or mental. I strive for perfection in the forms I create. This has been my way of processing my own debilitating chronic illness Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Disconnected limbs, sharp acute joints angular forms are my way of sublimating pain and trauma into physical manifestation of a new, perfect, machinelike humanoid. 

I work with various different resistant materials from balsa wood to steel, while some of the work for the "Flatlands" series is done digitally to allow laser accurate cutting. I relish getting my hands on the materials and exploring their potential, bending, folding, cutting and relentless sanding. The physical hands on work acts as a physical therapy, stabilising the joints in my fingers.

I am compelled to create. When in my flow state, it is a rare space without pain, without time, I am slightly outside reality existing in the art. At the start of my practice the completion of a piece would mean a relapse of my symptoms and a pause from work. It wasn't until working on One Giant Leap for Humankind, with the para athlete that I realised the extent of the trauma having my physical vitality taken away from me had caused and in turn the catharsis from creating the work. Since this revelation I am more conscious of my perspective on the human form and now have the confidence to share my experience of the world more widely.


Testimonials


‘Jacob Chandler’s collection captures the vitality of Shakespeare’s characters in all their edgy, front-footed, dynamic beauty. This is the world of As You Like It brought thrillingly to life.’

Dr Will Tosh - Head of Research at the Globe Theatre


“What makes Chandler's work particularly compelling is his ability to fuse sculptural precision with profound storytelling. His art work is HOPE it's not just an artwork; it's a monument to resilience, balancing industrial strength with emotional weight, a fusion Chandler has mastered over the years.  Whether working in steel, print or relief sculpture, Chandler's command of form and energy is unmistakable. His ability to capture not only motion but emotion, translating both into tangible form, continues to define him as a bold creative force in the contemporary art scene.”

Hidden Talents International Arts Magazine

Commissions and Public Works

2024 MMUH -  3m Stainless steel sculpture
                Soulton Hall RSC and Globe Theater collaboration

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

2026 The Soden Collection (Shropshire) Ongoing

Forward Gallery (Birmingham) - Ongoing

Lamberts - (Stratford upon Avon) - Ongoing

Soulton Hall (Shropshire) - Ongoing

2025 Shrewsbury Museum

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)