Born in 1957 and residing in Sydney, architect Graham Jago began his professional career in 1982 immediately after graduating from the University of New South Wales with a Bachelor of Architecture with honours. His architectural work has been supplemented by a continuing practice of sculpture, drawing and especially painting.
While studying at the University of New South Wales Jago attended the painting classes of Francis Giacco, a mentor he cites as a continuing influence on his painting. During his university studies Jago also took summer courses at the Julian Ashton Art School and private lessons with Peter Dorahey. At this time he was also tutored by David Wilson in Bathurst. After a ten-year break to set up his own architectural firm, Nordon Jago Architects, Jago returned to the Julian Ashton School before reconnecting with Peter Dorahey and subsequently, in 2002, began taking classes with him at the Royal Art Society of New South Wales.
Jago’s paintings usually depict figures in Australian landscapes and cityscapes. His compositions are underpinned with a strong narrative sensibility and a desire to have a direct and immediate connection with his viewers. Influenced by his career in Architecture Jago’s paintings have a strong spatial character with subject circumscribed by the landscape.
Jago first exhibited at a City of Sydney art show in 1979 and continued with such exhibitions into the early 1980s. He did not exhibit again until 2003 when he returned to council art shows. In 2005 Jago participated in a group exhibition titled 'In the Soul of The Architect’ at the Mary Place Gallery, Paddington, a show which featured the works of several artist/architects including Julius Bokor, Steffen Lehmann and Dale Jones-Evans.
Jago’s architectural practice covers a diverse range of private residences, apartment precincts, retail developments, educational facilities and factory developments, sometimes finely balancing modern and heritage elements.
- Writers:
- Broadhurst, Dominic
De Lorenzo, Catherine
- Date written:
- 2008
- Last updated:
- 2011
