b. 1972, United Kingdom

Thomas Houseago Artworks

Thomas Houseago's skeletal figures are replicated across drawing, painting, installation, and sculpture. They are often made from flimsy looking materials, placed in vulnerable postures, flattened, or drawn over.

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Physical Distortions

Houseago's early works took the form of performances influenced by the likes of Joseph Beuys and late-period Pablo Picasso paintings seen at the Tate Modern. Later inspirations include Henry Moore, Francis Picabia, and Jacob Epstein, who inspired Houseago to turn to human figures.

Accordingly, distorted bodies and figures in motion are evident across Houseago's body of work. They are made explicit in works like Folded Man (and 4 detail shots) (1997), in which a folded plaster figure appears ready to pounce.

Subverting expectations of weightiness, Joanne (6 views) (2005) appears as a flimsy effigy, depicting a pale figure with a ghastly face propped-up by thin plaster boards on either side, disgruntled and kneeling on the ground.

Fragile Figures

Houseago credits the fragility of the white male psyche for inspiring much of his work. Growing up in the North of England, the artist tell Ocula Magazine about the period of industrial collapse that resulted in the emergence of a 'hyper-macho culture' that was at once terrifying and tragic.

Opposing this power display, the public installation Golem (1988) subverts the expectations of monument and reverence by offering a headless, seated black body with one leg propped up against its chest, serenely resting in a garden, despite its beastly appearance.

The same vulnerability is found in Untitled (Folded man red stomach) (2000), a hollowed plaster figure with its torso ripped out and both legs planted into the ground.

Reimagining Sculpture

With rough surfaces and incomplete forms, Houseago's sculptures hint at the process of making and retain a humble appearance, at once pushing beyond and recovering traditional techniques and materials from classical and modern sculpture.

Assemblages like Figure 2 (2008) incorporate graphite drawings on otherwise flat surfaces to create three-dimensional figures made from wooden cut-out pieces. Held together by iron rebar, facial expressions and musculature are sketched on the body to generate a sense of depth.

Likewise, Malibu Owl (2020) comprises an aluminum surface on which is scribbled an uneven owl figure raised on a block of stone.

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Flower & Death by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork sculpture, drawing
Thomas Houseago Flower & Death, 2024 Redwood and pastel
368 x 74.8 x 74.9 cm
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My Studio Chair & Flowers by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork sculpture
Thomas Houseago My Studio Chair & Flowers, 2024 Brass
168.6 x 95.1 x 95.1 cm
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Eclipse II by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork sculpture, drawing
Thomas Houseago Eclipse II, 2024 Plaster, redwood, rebar, and pastel
183.8 x 85.7 x 61 cm
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Self Portrait Disassociating I by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork sculpture
Thomas Houseago Self Portrait Disassociating I, 2024 Plaster and redwood
127.6 x 50.5 x 50.6 cm
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Minotaur – Janus by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork works on paper, sculpture, drawing
Thomas Houseago Minotaur – Janus, 2024 Plaster, redwood, hemp, rebar, charcoal, and pastel
241.3 x 121.9 x 85.4 cm
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Snake Demon by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork sculpture
Thomas Houseago Snake Demon, 2024 Patinated bronze
58 x 43 x 40 cm
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Owl Guide (for Dying) by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork sculpture, drawing
Thomas Houseago Owl Guide (for Dying), 2024 Redwood, pastel, and bird droppings
277.3 x 76.7 x 76.4 cm
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Giant Minotaur (for DS) by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork sculpture
Thomas Houseago Giant Minotaur (for DS), 2024 Patinated bronze
310.2 x 74.8 x 75.1 cm
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Demon by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork sculpture
Thomas Houseago Demon, 2024 Redwood, rebar, and plaster
226.1 x 45.7 x 58.4 cm
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Lechuza Flowers by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork sculpture
Thomas Houseago Lechuza Flowers, 2024 Brass, concrete
220 x 110 x 111 cm
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Self Portrait as Flowers by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork painting
Thomas Houseago Self Portrait as Flowers, 2024 Acrylic and oil on canvas
213.4 x 182.9 cm
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Cosmic cloth & Flowers by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork painting
Thomas Houseago Cosmic cloth & Flowers, 2023 Acrylic on canvas
121.9 x 91.4 cm
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Study for Moonrise - Sunset by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork painting
Thomas Houseago Study for Moonrise - Sunset, 2023 Acrylic on canvas
152.4 x 121.9 cm
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Lechuza Flowers by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork sculpture
Thomas Houseago Lechuza Flowers, 2023 Brass sheets
51.9 x 23.6 x 26.8 cm
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Gold Moonrise over Zuma by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork painting
Thomas Houseago Gold Moonrise over Zuma, 2023 Acrylic on canvas
152.4 x 121.9 cm
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Sunset & Flowers at the Tree House by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork painting
Thomas Houseago Sunset & Flowers at the Tree House, 2023 Acrylic on canvas
121.9 x 91.4 cm
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Untitled by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork sculpture
Thomas Houseago Untitled, 2018 Plaster and wood
167 x 49.5 x 50.8 cm
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Untitled (Cosmic Skull) by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork sculpture
Thomas Houseago Untitled (Cosmic Skull), 2018 Redwood
178.1 x 50.8 x 49.5 cm
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Demon Dream II by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork painting
Thomas Houseago Demon Dream II, 2022 Acrylic on canvas
274.3 x 182.9 cm
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Vision Guide by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork sculpture
Thomas Houseago Vision Guide, 2022 Poured plaster, rebar, steel plate
342.9 x 109.2 x 20.3 cm
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Standing Figure I by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork sculpture
Thomas Houseago Standing Figure I, 2014 Bronze, black patina
238.8 x 96.5 x 6.5 cm
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Yosemite Day 4 - Red Bear at Toulumne River by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork painting
Thomas Houseago Yosemite Day 4 - Red Bear at Toulumne River, 2022 Acrylic on canvas
274.3 x 182.9 cm
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Xavier Hufkens
Midnight Lady by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork sculpture
Thomas Houseago Midnight Lady, 2018-2021 Wood

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Soma Care Painting I by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork works on paper, drawing
Thomas Houseago Soma Care Painting I, 2018 Graphite and charcoal on canvas
121.9 x 91.4 x 5.7 cm
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Malibu Owl by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork sculpture
Thomas Houseago Malibu Owl, 2020 aluminium
170 x 59 x 59 cm
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A Dreamer (after LH) by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork sculpture
Thomas Houseago A Dreamer (after LH), 2020 Bronze and oak
108 x 41.9 x 71.5 cm
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Lil Lechuza Owl by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork painting
Thomas Houseago Lil Lechuza Owl, 2023 Acrylic on canvas
81.3 x 64.8 x 5.1 cm
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Sunset - Cosmic alignment (beautiful day) by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork painting
Thomas Houseago Sunset - Cosmic alignment (beautiful day), 2023 Acrylic on canvas
152.4 x 121.9 x 5.1 cm
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Mystery Owl (Amani) by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork sculpture
Thomas Houseago Mystery Owl (Amani), 2023 Redwood
182.9 x 61 x 59.7 cm
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Mystery Owl at Studio by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork painting
Thomas Houseago Mystery Owl at Studio, 2023 Acrylic on canvas
213.4 x 182.9 x 5.1 cm
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Sunset - Cosmic alignment (beautiful day) by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork painting
Thomas Houseago Sunset - Cosmic alignment (beautiful day), 2023 Acrylic on canvas
213.4 x 182.9 x 5.1 cm
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Waking Flowers Sunrise by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork painting
Thomas Houseago Waking Flowers Sunrise, 2023 Acrylic on canvas
274.3 x 182.9 x 5.1 cm
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Sage flowers, Coast live Oak Charmlee, after the rains by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork painting
Thomas Houseago Sage flowers, Coast live Oak Charmlee, after the rains, 2023 Acrylic on canvas
274.3 x 182.9 x 5.1 cm
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Lechuza Moon Rise by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork painting
Thomas Houseago Lechuza Moon Rise, 2023 Acrylic on canvas
213.4 x 182.9 x 5.1 cm
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Untitled by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork painting
Thomas Houseago Untitled, 2022 Acrylic on canvas
274.3 x 182.9 x 5.1 cm
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Lying Figure (Mother Father) by Thomas Houseago contemporary artwork sculpture
Thomas Houseago Lying Figure (Mother Father), 2011 Bronze
122 x 134 x 457 cm
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