In the 1960s Col Jordan was one of a small group of young artists who introduced hard edge optical painting to Australia.
He was born in Sydney in 1935 and educated at Homebush Boys High School, Balmain Teachers College and the University of Sydney.
Since 1966 he has had forty six solo exhibitions in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra including retrospective exhibitions at the Wollongong City Gallery, Bathurst City Art Gallery and the Lewers Bequest Gallery. He has won a number of awards including the Flotta Lauro Traveling Art Scholarship.
His participation in major group exhibitions includes "Engine" in 1967, "The Field" in 1968, "Abstraction Now-The Australians" in 1986, "Virtue"in 1993 and "Silver-25th Anniversary Exhibition" in 1999.
His work is represented in major public and corporate collections including those of B.H.P., I.B.M., the Commonwealth Bank, the University of New South Wales, The University of Sydney, the University of Wollongong, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the National Gallery of Victoria and the National Gallery of Australia.
In 1994 Col Jordan retired from his position as professor and associate dean at the College of Fine Art in The University of New South Wales and in 1995 was appointed an honorary visiting professor at that institution.
In 1996 the Council of The University of New South Wales conferred on him the title of emeritus professor.