ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

John Isaacs' Golden Excavator Bucket at Foro Buonaparte 52

exhibition · 2026-05-04

At Foro Buonaparte 52 in Milan, John Isaacs, born in 1968 in Lancaster, is presenting three artworks. The centerpiece of the show is an eye-catching blue neon sign that reads "if not now then when," a phrase that Isaacs often incorporates into his pieces. Another intriguing work, titled "The empty temple," is a life-sized replica of an excavator bucket, embellished with gold leaf, ceramic, and epoxy resin, turning a simple tool into a significant metaphor for a future filled with metal and waste. Lastly, "A perfect soul" features a photograph of Isaacs’ daughter alongside her mother. The exhibition explores how the artist manipulates time to reveal a thought-provoking story.

Key facts

  • John Isaacs was born in Lancaster in 1968.
  • The exhibition is held at Foro Buonaparte 52 in Milan.
  • The cycle includes three works: 'The empty temple', 'A perfect soul', and 'From a distance you look smaller but I know that you are there'.
  • 'The empty temple' is a life-size excavator bucket replica in gold leaf over ceramic and epoxy resin.
  • 'A perfect soul' is a photograph of Isaacs' daughter holding her mother.
  • The neon work bears the phrase 'if not now then when', previously used by Isaacs.
  • The exhibition focuses on disrupting the appearance of time.
  • The work is presented at Galleria Poggiali, Milan.

Entities

Artists

  • John Isaacs

Institutions

  • Galleria Poggiali

Locations

  • Milan
  • Italy
  • Lancaster
  • United Kingdom

Sources