Jonathan Trayte

Jonathan Trayte explores a form of functional surrealism, where bronze appears in disguise as fruit, confection, and synthetic fantasy. Through saturated color, biomorphic form, and hyper-finished surfaces, he transforms the visual language of consumer desire into sculpture. Grapefruit Moon Sculpture unfolds as a vivid meditation on nature and artificiality, where luminous color and tactile surfaces blur the boundary between organic form and manufactured seduction. 76 × 28 × 28 cm Unique Wild Goat Sculpture balances stacked biomorphic elements in intensely saturated, almost edible tones , a surreal composition suspended between appetite, fantasy, and material illusion. 86 × 32 × 28 cm Unique #JonathanTrayte #TheAPRoom

. Zuumo Painted and polished bronze 91 x 25 x 25 cm 2024 @akaraart

💥 We are delighted to announce that Rachael Champion & Jonathan Trayte public sculpture, Seed, Reading, has been nominated for our 2026 PSSA Marsh Award for Excellence in Public Sculpture. Seed is a site-specific public sculpture inspired by the horticultural history of Sutton’s Seeds in 19th century Reading. When observed under magnification, seeds offer a mesmerising world of visually captivating forms which have inspired the artwork’s design. Seeds are powerful metaphors for potential, growth, and transformation which reflect the legacy of Reading. The artwork consists of three bright orange steel plates, depicting the silhouette of a Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis) seed. The sculpture is mounted onto a five-metre concrete cylindrical plinth which also functions as a seating area for visitors and residents to meet and relax. The plinth is made with a bespoke terrazzo containing a large portion of recycled brick. The inclusion of brick is an important reference to Reading’s renowned history in brick manufacturing and design. The terrazzo is also comprised of recycled glass, limestone and granite. The plinth is embellished with nine bronze reliefs depicting textures and surfaces of magnified seeds. The seeds were selected by Reading’s residents through a public engagement call out. The artists surveyed a range of communities throughout Reading to find out what plants and seeds are important to them via an online survey, building a picture of Reading represented through seeds. Curated by Futurecity @futurecity_culture Commissioned by Lincoln MGT The PSSA Marsh Award for Excellence in Public Sculpture celebrates outstanding contemporary public sculpture and monuments installed in the previous year and fostering a broader engagement with this vital art form. With thanks to our partners @marshawards 📷 Studio Maple/the artists/Adrian Lambert #jonathantrayte #rachaelchampion #Reading #pssamarshaward #publicsculpture

. Cherry Pie Painted bronze, glass 73 x 26 x 22 cm 2025 A bit late posting this, a new artwork that I was pleased to present @nomadcircle Abu Dhabi last November with @theaproom , a gallery new to Dubai and the UAE. Photographs by @johnmckenziephotography

. Ahsookka Painted and patinated bronze, brass 80 x 38 x 28 cm 2024 Photography by @john_h00per

. On show with Akara Contemporary at Art Mumbai Uzzuu Painted and polished bronze, brass 123 x 53 x 40 cm 2025 Photography by @john_h00per

. Lots coming through this month

End of an era, five years in Thanet and now to Scotland…

. On show as part of Acid Disco at Akara Contemporary Zum Zuunii Painted and polished bronze, brass 76h x 27 x 26 cm 2025 March 13 - April 19, 2025 3C Amarchand Mansion, 2nd Floor 16 Madam Cama Road Coloba, Mumbai 400001 📷 @john_h00per

. Zootie Painted bronze, brass 94 x 32 x 32 cm 2025 📷 @john_h00per

On show as part of Acid Disco at Akara Contemporary Kanzi Painted bronze, stainless steel, brass 163 x 78 x 56 cm 2025 178 kg March 13 - April 19, 2025 3C Amarchand Mansion, 2nd Floor 16 Madam Cama Road Coloba, Mumbai 400001 📷 @john_h00per

Jonathan Trayte, graduated with a Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Art in 2010 from the Royal Academy of Arts, London, and in 2004 he received a B.A (Hons) degree in Fine Art from the Kent Institute of Art and Design, Canterbury. Trayte’s work explores cultivation and consumption, where his aluminium cut-outs and painted bronze sculptures features imagery that resembles confectionary and food. With his past culinary experiences and thinking of food as a basic material, he uses castings and facsimiles to examine the many ways in which we perceive and utilise our resources. His approaches in making sculptures are informed by the colours used in food displays and packaging but more specifically by the science of perception and how it is used to manipulate consumer’s decision-making process. His attempt by incorporating diverse influences from glossy synthetic surfaces or product advertising, is to form a discourse that explores our innovative abilities to manage and manipulate both the built and natural world. Using contrasting materials like ceramic, bronze, aluminium, vinyl, resin, PU foams, pigmented rubbers, iron or steel, his works responds to our complex system. Trayte’s works are often covered in meticulously painted layers, giving the work a pop status that is seductive and alluring at times. The striking assemblages can stand magnificently as both, an aesthetic object and a representation of our burgeoning consumer culture. Drop by to catch Jonathan Trayte’s upcoming solo show at Akara Contemporary!