John Mitchell - The Personal Collection & Studio Sale
Date: 13th August 2026, Lots 1-380, 10 am start
Date: 14th August 2026, Lots 381-747, 10 am start
'Mitchell's work exists on the edge of language' - David Ross, London, 2011
John Mitchell was a highly respected artist, sculptor and tutor, with much of his work abstract and based on proportional systems, with geometrics and the Fibonacci series being consistent motifs found within his work. Cornish-based yet with an international following, he honed his craft in his idyllic home and studio with views over Newlyn Harbour.
During the 1960's, Mitchell began to use the Fibonacci sequence to influence his work with bulk colours, often dried pigments, filling precisely measured voids with such vibrancies as cobalt blue, red ochre, indigo and burnt sienna. A passage from Samuel Beckett's Molloy, 'I had four ways of wearing my shirt...' added inspiration, encouraging Mitchell to play with similar motifs whilst developing as many variations as possible, which is evident within his 'Frustum and Fillers' series, with multiple variations of paintings and sculpture in both wood and bronze.
This sale showcases a lifetime of Mitchell’s work. It unites the worlds of mathematics and art, exploring a language without words. Lay’s are proud to bring this artist's work back into the public realm for fresh eyes to enjoy once more.
Join us for the private view on the 6th of August, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Collection appointments available to book from Monday 24th to Friday 28th August 2026
Please note: This auction (including viewing & collections) takes place at our Penzance saleroom.
Viewing times
Private view: 6th August, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Saturday 8th August, 9am to 1pm, and Monday 10th, Tuesday 11th, and Wednesday 12th August 2026, 9am to 5pm.
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Lot 665 - John MITCHELL (1943-2014) Three Space-Age Inspired Works (c.1966)
Lot 666 - John MITCHELL (1943-2014) Fibonacci Derived Block (c.2011)
Lot 667 - John MITCHELL (1943-2014) Wall-Mounted Two Cut Edges Back to Back - Two Works
Lot 668 - John MITCHELL (1943-2014) Wall-Mounted Two Cut Edges Back to Back - Two Works
Lot 669 - John MITCHELL (1943-2014) Wall-Mounted Two Cut Edges Back to Back - Two Works
Lot 670 - John MITCHELL (1943-2014) Wall-Mounted Two Cut Edges Back to Back - Two Works
Lot 671 - John MITCHELL (1943-2014) Some Truth In My Eyes Not Even (1967)
Lot 682 - John MITCHELL (1943-2014) Three Bird's-Eye View Studies for 'Frustums and Fillers'
Lot 683 - John MITCHELL (1943-2014) Three Bird's-Eye View Studies for 'Frustums and Fillers'
Lot 686 - John MITCHELL (1943-2014) Camden Art Centre Solo Exhibition Poster
Lot 687 - John MITCHELL (1943-2014) Wall-Mounted Two Cut Edges Back to Back - Two Works
Lot 688 - John MITCHELL (1943-2014) Wall-Mounted Two Cut Edges Back to Back - Two Works
Lot 689 - John MITCHELL (1943-2014) Four Jelutong Cores for 'Bronze Blocks with Conic Voids;
Lot 690 - John MITCHELL (1943-2014) Cartesian Coordinates II (1982)
Lot 691 - John MITCHELL (1943-2014) Cartesian Coordinates II (1982)
Lot 692 - John MITCHELL (1943-2014) Cartesian Coordinates II (1982)
Lot 693 - John MITCHELL (1943-2014) Cartesian Coordinates II (1982)
Lot 701 - John MITCHELL (1943-2014) 'That Do Not Exist' - Early Experimental Works
Lot 702 - John MITCHELL (1943-2014) Cartesian Coordinates I (Discrete Cone Cut) 1982
Lot 703 - John MITCHELL (1943-2014) Cartesian Coordinates I (Discrete Cone Cut) 1982
Lot 704 - John MITCHELL (1943-2014) Cartesian Coordinates I (Discrete Cone Cut) 1982
Lot 705 - John MITCHELL (1943-2014) Three Pairs of Conical Frustums
