Anthony Reynolds Gallery, London, has announced the death of artist Jon Thompson, 80. His long career as an academic and teacher of artists is credited for being hugely influential on the development of the YBAs as well as former students Richard Deacon, Mark Wallinger and Steve McQueen. His most notable teaching roles took place at Goldsmiths, Jan Van Eyck Academie (Netherlands) and Middlesex University (formerly Hornsey School of Art) where he taught until 2006. Thompson’s progressive attitude towards the teaching of art led to frequent politically charged debates on the value of art education. Fellow Goldsmiths tutor Michael Craig-Martin has described Thompson as ‘the most original and gifted art educationalist of Britain in the past 45 years… A brilliant teacher: intelligent, sympathetic, articulate.’
2 March 2016.
