Contemporary sculptor, printmaker, and draghtsman, David Jacobson was born to Jewish parents in 1951 in Windhoek, Namibia. After studying, travelling and working across Namibia, South Africa, Australia, and Israel (where he first began sculpting), Jacobson moved to London in 1973 to enrol at art school.
In London Jacobson landed a place at Camberwell School of Art and Crafts—renowned for its figurative-based sculpture course—graduating with a BA Hons (sculpt) and a distinction in printmaking. Jacobson was then apprenticed to the etcher, Ja’acov Boussidan who allowed Jacobson to transform his disused garage into his first sculpture studio.
In 1979, having had success with his etchings and paper-making, Jacobson set up a print workshop in East London with four fellow artists. Jacobson’s work won several competitions and was bought by the V&A and the Chicago City Art Gallery amongst other institutions.
In 1982, Jacobson moved to Camaiore, Italy for a year. Here, he acquired studio space at Henraux, a renowned studio of artisans who made stone-works for the likes of Henry Moore, Isamu Noguchi, and Marino Marini, and his concept of sculpture changed. When Jacobson returned to London, he continued to make sculptures from his newly acquired studio in Brixton.
Jacobson now divides his time between Italy and London, making sculptures (and other 2-dimensional works) and collage. His work has been exhibited across the U.K., U.S.A., Italy, France, Switzerland, Japan, Spain and South Africa.
David Jacobson, Jane, Dolls and Namib Desert, 2005
