William Turnbull
Works available
Hero I
1957
Stone & bronze
Height: 100 cms / 39.5 ins
Biography
William Turbull
(1922-)
Scottish sculptor, painter and printmaker, regarded as one of Britain's foremost sculptors.
After serving in the Royal Air Force during World War Two, Turnbull studied at the Slade School of Art. Following this Turnbull spent two years living in Paris with his fellow contemporary Eduardo Paolozzi and became largely influenced by the artists he met; Brancusi, Giacometti and Leger among others.
Turnbull's early paintings rely heavily on the use of signs and motifs. His paintings used simple linear elements and were followed by works which were very gestural in form. Influenced by Barnett Newman, Turnbull created vast canvases covered with varying hues.
Turnbull's early sculptures consist of variety of materials, including plaster, bronze, wood, steel and plastic, incorporated together, and his sculptures up to 1963 show this experimental nature.
From 1963 Turnbull turned his attention to painted steel sculptures of irregular forms and in the late 70s returned loosely to his previous style of the 50s. These works however were smaller and more intimate than the ones prior.