Tony Spencer

Bio

 

Tony Spencer (b. 1971) is a British artist based at The Yard Studios in Winchester, Hampshire. His practice spans sculpture, sound installation, and mokuhanga, the traditional Japanese technique of woodblock printmaking.

 

He studied Fine Art Sculpture (BA) at Northumbria University and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Gallery Studies from Newcastle University. Alongside his artistic career, Spencer has worked extensively in gallery management and contemporary curating. Most recently, he completed an MA with Distinction in Art Psychotherapy at the University of Derby.

 

He is an Associate Artist at Chapel Arts Studios (CAS) in Andover, UK.

 

CV:  Tony Spencer

 

Statement

 

My art practice draws on symbolism, geometry, mythology, and Jungian theory to explore a deep, tactile relationship with materials. I aim to balance non-verbal emotional expression with the logical structure of construction and line.

 

Geometry provides a cognitive framework for the order I seek through simplicity, rhythm, and harmony. While it often acts as a means of avoiding overt emotional expression, I am equally drawn to its archetypal resonance and reflection of natural forms. When combined with sound, my sculptures invite kinesthetic and multisensory engagement, encouraging intuitive exploration through movement, interaction, and perception.

 

Alongside sculpture, I create contemporary Japanese woodblock prints (mokuhanga), translating symbolic and archetypal imagery into two-dimensional form. I value the traditional process of mokuhanga for its blend of technical discipline, through preparation and carving, with the expressive freedom of design and print. This process offers an authentic, hands-on creative experience.

 

Since qualifying as an Art Therapist, my practice has become increasingly self-reflective. I have recently begun working with Teatro Lambe Lambe, a miniature form of puppet theatre, as a new medium to explore Jung’s concept of the shadow. This intimate, performative format allows for subtle storytelling and psychological depth through symbolic narrative and contained space.

 

Across all mediums, my work seeks to connect inner and outer worlds, offering the viewer moments of stillness, insight, and resonance.