The Mayfarer Cover Competition & Bentley Motors Factory Visit

Excited to be part of The Mayfarer Cover Competition judging panel. I found loads of ideas and inspiration at the incredible Bentley Motors factory in Crewe, perfect for Morris Singer Foundry, Elise Rosalie, and especially for my own work.

In addition to judging, I'm crafting a special award inspired by my Bentley visit for the winner.

And if you haven’t heard about the Competition - The Mayfarer is seeking a cover image that truly captures the essence of Mayfair.

The winning artwork will grace the autumn cover of The Mayfarer and be showcased in the windows of H.R. Owen Bentley Jack Barclay, Mayfair. Runners-up will have their submissions published inside the magazine.

How to submit: click here. DEADLINE: August 31, 2024.

Thanks to the H.R. Owen Bentley team and Elise Rosalie!

The Dorchester Sphere

THE DORCHESTER SPHERE  IS A NEW SCULPTURE BY JILL BERELOWITZ, COMMISSIONED BY THE DORCHESTER COLLECTION AS A CELEBRATION IN THE PLATINUM JUBILEE YEAR OF HER LATE MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II. 

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The Dorchester Hotel is the epicentre of London, an international city of glamourous fun, thriving energy and timeless spirit. This iconic hotel has hosted royalty since the turn of the twentieth century, including her late majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Dorchester Hotel has a longstanding connection to the Royal Family, hosting life events and celebrations throughout the decades, including the Queen’s engagement to Prince Phillip.

The sculpture is an abstract interpretation of the earth, organic and sophisticated in equal measure. The surface is covered in an organic relief of the world’s land masses, with an inscription upon its equator which reads: ‘The Dorchester stands tall as a cherished landmark of our times, an enduring keeper of London’s bold spirit and a welcome home for those who make the world turn’. 

To celebrate this shared history, the Dorchester Hotel has commissioned a new, large-scale public sculpture in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. This new work is a majestic, imposing 2.6 meters tall sculpture of a globe. Cast in bronze, with intriguing interplays of patinated and a high shine surface, this new, impressive work will stand as a celebration of the Queen’s life and service to the country. 

The dynamic energy of the Dorchester is epitomised in the iconic globe. The rotating sphere captures its global spirit, each timeless in their own way, and symbols of steadfastness in a changing world. 

An international sculptor, Jill’s work highlights many universal themes; the feminine, movement, and dynamism, universal and continuous like the circle of life. The Dorchester Sphere is continuously changing, yet constant to ensure its longevity, epitomising the elegant DNA and sophisticated essence of the Dorchester.

Jill’s signature style captures the sophisticated elegance and timelessness of the Dorchester in this new, intriguing piece which itself will become a new London landmark.

Photography and video by Cristina Schek.

The Promise of Nature

Even in the dark winter months, the promise of spring is on its way. The changing seasons offer inspiration for Jill’s work, and her garden studio is full of objects and ideas that embody nature’s enduring spirit.

Often a meditation on the life and vitality of the earth, with it’s beautiful flora and fauna, nature is a key theme of Jill’s work. With nature’s wealth of forms and symbolism, Jill’s inspiration comes from the continent of Africa, as well as closer to home in the UK.

This panel features an Acacia tree on a vast blue sky. Native to the African Savannah, the Acacia tree symbolises knowledge and life's flow. Paired with the family group of figures, this composition celebrates the nature’s steadfastness in the face of uncertainty.

Tumbleweed is one of Jill’s signature works. Inspired by the giant tumbleweeds found in the African desert, the figures found inside signify the interconnectedness of human and plant life. This complex form is a metaphor for the earth’s delicate ecosystems.

Made from vibrantly coloured resin, and highly polished bronze, Jill’s large-scale, wall based leaves create an undulating, three dimensional landscape across the wall. The rippling shapes reflect the light to give a shimmering forest-like effect.

Leaves can be commissioned in a range of scales, colours, materials, and grouped in varied compositions to create interest and flow.

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A recent experiment, this small piece is a cast made directly from a Romanesco, a member of the brassica family. It’s prized for its intricate geometry, formed of perfect Fibonacci spirals.

Autumn abounds in Jill’s new sculpture ‘Fruit of Life’, inspired by the Old Master tradition of still life painting. Made of bronze, these tantalisingly life-like gourds are full of texture and vibrant colour. Celebrating the mellow harvest season, this sculpture captures a quintessentially British time of year.

Jill’s work is a celebration of nature and all it has to offer. Within this celebration is a message that we should treasure and care for our environment, for it holds the key to life itself.

Material Texture

Rippled, ridged, tumbled, and polished, Jill’s sculptural work is characterised by its imaginative use of material and texture.

Jill is a master of bronze, which she uses to great effect to create all types of texture, from weathered stone to a high golden polish. She also uses resin to create glistening walls of colour that reflect and refract the light to build layers of glowing tones.

It is the tactile quality of Jill’s work that gives its weight and warmth. Her surfaces are inspired by textures found in nature and the inherent qualities of her materials, which lend themselves to a surprising variety of finishes and effects.

This pair of figures, titled Emergence, uses the forms and textures of weathered rock, with highly polished areas creating facets of light. Bronze here provides a rugged surface, with a careful patination giving the sense of an elemental landscape.

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Cosmos is shown here in a pale grey finish, giving it a contemporary elegance and a cool beauty. The bronze here has been treated to give an ultra smooth surface.

Jill’s colourful timepieces are created from resin. Their clarity and polish create a stained glass effect, amplifying the luminosity of natural light.

Rocky the Lucky Elephant is highly polished in a golden bronze. His playful nature and cheerful disposition are heightened by his high-shine finish.

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Eve, the first woman celebrates the beauty of human anatomy. Her carefully drawn ridged texture depict the musculature in an understated way, giving a geometric, tactile quality to the piece.

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The beautiful blue sky is created on a bronze panel using patination techniques, with an aged bronze used for the Acacia tree, which signifies knowledge and endurance, inspired by Jill’s South African roots.

Jill’s imaginative experimental approach to her materials captures the qualities of nature and organic forms. Her continuous innovation of new surfaces, treatments and colours allow her to create a kaleidoscope of work that celebrate positivity and life itself.

Art With Function

Jill’s work is not just beautiful to look at; its strength and beauty lends itself perfectly to functional objects too. Jill’s creativity shines through in her imaginative functional forms. Cast in bronze, these pieces will stand the test of time, retaining their colour and shine for many years to come.

Jill’s signature lyrical shapes and natural forms adorn bowls, tables, mirrors and door handles, adding a contemporary touch that works with period and modern spaces alike to create a naturally-inspired, yet eclectic look and feel. These timeless pieces add character and elegance to an eclectic collection, or as a striking centrepiece on their own.

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Most recently, Jill has been experimenting with turning her sculptural forms into door handles. A graceful female figure has been repurposed as a front door handle, and smaller figures as handles for kitchen cabinets, in contrast to the modern handles already in place.

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Previous works include the bowls from Jill’s Shakespeare’s Tree project, with a rugged outer shell formed from the tree bark’s texture, and the inside a highly polished surface complete with the Shakespeare seal. Available in several sizes, these extraordinary bowls are an impressive focus point for a dining or coffee table.

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Jill has also used this tree trunk shape as a highly polished coffee table base. The bronze colour and surface offers a timeless warmth and gravity in a domestic setting, with a modern take on a natural form.

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The tree motif continues in this antiqued mirror, with a patina in a rose shade that reflects a glowing light back into the room.

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Another more recent mirror piece is this abstract mirror, created for Jill’s 2019 exhibition Osmosis. It has a highly polished white bronze surface and frame of lyrical flowing shapes that feels both historical and contemporary.

Art with function is a wonderful way to add art to a home, and can be a fabulous gift for anyone inspired by nature and the beauty of bronze.

Because the pieces made by hand at the Morris Singer Foundry, these pieces can be adapted to work with any space, or even designed in collaboration with Jill to create something truly unique.

Groups of objects and art create a wonderfully eclectic feel. Jill’s Abstract Mirror, with its organic, sculptural frame captures her pair of figures, which in turn mirror the forms of the African Art displayed on the walls.

The mirror and figures are available to purchase, and can be commissioned in a range of sizes and finishes.

The Joy of Life with Art

After a period where many of us have been spending more time at home, art and beauty are more important than ever to create an environment where we can feel comfortable and spend time with objects that hold personal significance and family memories.

As an artist, Jill has a wonderful collection of her own pieces alongside those of other artists and craftspeople from Europe and Africa. Taken all together, her home tells the story of her life, her family history, and creative practice. This autobiographical collection is unique and inspiring, and a place to be inspired to create new work too.

Jill’s work highlights the joy of life and nature, and it is the centrepiece of her warm and vibrant home. Jill has also worked with many clients to help them realise their dream living space through commissioned work, so do get in touch if you’re feeling inspired!

Jill’s tips for an eclectic home

Collect what you really love

When it comes to buying things it’s important that you fall in love with it, and you will want to live with it for years to come. It’s great to find an artwork or object that makes your heart sing, whether because of its colour, shape or material, or that it reminds you of a joyful time in your life.

Mix and match

Modern art with period furniture? Antique silverware next to a contemporary piece? Monochrome with colour? Why not? Have fun with putting things together, even if you think it may not work, be prepared to be surprised by what actually goes together. If you love it, it will work.

Collect things that are significant to you

A favourite animal, plant, flower, or colour can be a great way to start a collection. Jill’s love of elephants shines through her home, with subtle touches throughout, complementing African furniture and her bronze pieces alongside floral displays. Jill’s love of her African roots can be found everywhere, and her collection of artworks include a piece by her teacher and mentor Karen Jarozynska. Every piece has meaning, and that brings a sense of being rooted.

Create an enchanting outdoor space

Pieces in durable bronze and resin can be placed outside and offer a wonderful contrast to plants and trees. Create a delightful garden where you will want to spend time relaxing by adding some beautiful sculptural pieces. Whether you choose a grand scale, or a charming smaller piece, art is a wonderful way to enhance your outside space.

Ignore trends and find your own style

Fashion comes and goes but your taste and style will evolve much more slowly. Ignore trends and buy what you like, what you think will last and that you will still want to live with in the future. Timeless pieces will be stylish no matter what, and a few key pieces of art can be the starting point for an inspiring, exciting, curated home that really tells your story.

Reflections on Life During Lockdown

Like so many of us, Jill has recently been reflecting on how life has changed over the course of this year. Although the past months have been full of personal challenges, they have also been productive. Like many creative people, Jill has found ways to use this time to make new work, and experiment with plenty of exciting, new ideas. Jill’s beautiful, eclectic north London home that she shares with her husband John has been an artistic haven during this time. It is filled with objects and art that inspire her, as well as her studio that looks out onto a luscious verdant garden.

Having more time to spend at home has meant more time living with her own and others’ art, with this close proximity providing time for inspiration and reflection. Jill is always inspired by her South African roots, illustrated by her collection of African art and objects sitting side by side with her own works.

These pieces can be commissioned in a range of colours and sizes in singles, or groups, in combinations as limitless as your imagination.

Recently, Jill has been working on some beautifully textured and patinated pieces all cast at the Morris Singer Foundry. New works include smaller scale female figures with a ridged surface. The lines echo the muscular anatomy of the human body, in contrast to the lithe, subtly curved female forms. She has also been experimenting with different coloured bronzes, from white to a deep gold. Alone or in groups, these pieces are elegant, taking inspiration from the female form, and the geometric patterns often found in African art and decoration. They celebrate a beauty to be found in strength, and offer a hopeful, optimistic vision for the future.

Jill’s work has also taken a new direction using a sophisticated grey finish on bronze, adding an understated elegance to her forms, evocative of tumbled stones and weathered rocks. Bronze is prized for its colour and durability, but it is in fact a very versatile medium, and offers a diverse range of surfaces and textures that will stand the test of time. These grey pieces are an exciting, modern take on an ancient material.

These tantalising gourds can be purchased in a variety of forms, groupings and colours. Use your imagination to find the perfect combination.

Another recent experiment is Fruit of Life. Jill has been working on these fabulous gourds from bronze and using colour to create organic still life sculptures inspired by the Old Masters to create playful sculptures that are full of autumnal abundance that capture nature at its finest as the seasons shift.

Working from home has not inhibited Jill’s use of scale, and these impressive male and female figures with a straight and curved ridged pattern have been created recently. They have a real impact in a domestic space, with an impressive stature that can create a sophisticated focal point in any room.

Like nature, creativity always finds a way to thrive; even in these most uncertain times art will endure, as long as there is space for inspiration and ideas. Jill’s artistic energy has benefitted from this quieter period, and she is excited to share even more over the coming months of her exciting journey into new creative territories.

Osmosis by Jill Berelowitz | Behind The Scenes

Behind The Scenes at the studio. Patination.

The finished sculpture is part of my Solo Exhibition ‘Osmosis’, on view from 8 November 2018 till end of January 2019 at 45 Park Lane, courtesy of Ackerman Studiosin association with Dorchester Collection. Cast at Morris Singer Foundry.

Video credit Cristina Schek ⠀⠀⠀