Jon Burgerman is NTU's Alumnus of the Year
9 December 2016
Jon Burgerman (BA Hons Fine Art 2001) is Nottingham Trent University’s Alumnus of the Year for 2016!
The UK-born, New York City-based illustrator has become a prominent arts figure whose work is exhibited internationally and features in the permanent collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) and Science Museum, London.
Known for his instantly recognisable pop-art cartoon aesthetic, his works exist across a multitude of forms including canvases, large-scale murals, sculpture, toys, colouring books and more.
Jon said: “I’m extremely humbled and honoured. I don’t really feel like I deserve an award. I pretty much feel not too dissimilar to how I felt about my work when I graduated. However, in stopping and thinking about the last 15 years, reflecting on why I might be given such an honour from the University, I realise I’ve actually gone quite far. It’s great and I’m very thankful. NTU pointed me in the right direction and geared me up to enter ‘the real world’. The support from the tutors during the course and thereafter has been invaluable.
“I’m looking forward to being back on campus and seeing if any of the stickers I sneakily put around the campus as a student are still there, as in a funny way they led to the start of my career and first commercial jobs.”
In 2008 Jon first entered the public consciousness when his 300 page monograph - Pens Are My Friends - was published by IdN. In the same year he appeared on BBC TV show Blue Peter to create a mural 'doodle' live on set. He has won awards and collaborated with numerous global household brands that include Samsung, Pepsi, CocaCola, Nike, Sony, Sky, BBC and more.
In 2010, he relocated to New York to develop his practice and in 2015 he exhibited work in the White House. Today Jon regularly performs at events, conferences and universities internationally, delivering keynote lectures and running creative workshops.
Professor Edward Peck, Vice-Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University, said: “Jon Burgerman is one of our most successful arts alumni and we’re very proud that he’s chosen to accept this award. His vibrant ‘doodle’ style can be seen throughout the world, from the walls of the most prestigious arts galleries to the pages of children’s colouring books.
“He has been an inspiration to many people since graduating from Nottingham Trent University and we’re very much looking forward to welcoming him back to present him with this award.”
Find out more about the Alumnus of the Year Award.