Campoli & Nelson is the brand name of a collaboration of two local Sussex artist/partners which began in 2003.
Philip Nelson, history
Artist, sculptor, silversmith, graduated with honours in 3D metal, followed by distinctions in fine art at Putney School of Art. After college, he worked as a product designer in Utrecht, Holland for a few years followed by a further year working in the Silversmithing department of the Dutch crown jewellers, Van der Vet in Amsterdam. On his return to England he joined the famous “Jewellery Workshop” in Covent Garden. At this time, he exhibited annually in “Loot” at Goldsmiths Hall, where he was also included in an exhibition organised by glass artist Sam Herman called “Bottles and Tops”. Shops included Liberty’s, the Casson Gallery, Nieman Marcus and Bloomingdales.
Process
The continuous process of forging, heating, and annealing the silver can produce forms, textures and colours, that never fail to excite, whether working with Joe’s glass or with the metal alone, He often regards the results as modernist, experimental and above all sculptural.
Joe Campoli, History
After art college in Boston Joe Campoli studied stained glass in Pittsfield Massachusetts, followed by glass blowing courses at the Berkshire Centre for Contemporary glass, and at the Fellerman and Raab studios in Sheffield, Massachusetts.
Process
Joe has always had an interest in the capricious ways that glass catches light, how it reflects and ripples. His lamps, light sconces and jewellery are made by fusing multiple layers of glass with embedded metals and minerals with accents of dichroic (metallised) glass. His pieces may take many firings over many days to reach the desired shapes and colours. Joe’s work is distinguished by the way he allows the natural qualities of glass-forming and firing to be focal, leaving the unexpected naturally formed edges and surface textures to glisten, following in the Japanese tradition of Wabi-Sabi or Shibui. His work has a unique magical tactile quality all of its own. People remark how each time they look into his work there is always something new to discover.
All our work is hand made in our own workshop in the UK, and carry either the London or Birmingham Assay Office hallmarks if over 7 grams. (see Hallmark Guidance notes)
We exhibit with the Sussex Guild and The Sussex Arts Collective and work can always be viewed at the Sussex Guild Shop in Lewes