Bryan Kneale
An overriding characteristic of Bryan Kneale’s work is an interest in linkages—the way in which separate forms are conjoined. Skeletons and joints of animals were explored through drawing and construction in metal. Kneale prefers to work directly in metal rather than modeling in an intermediary material before casting. Recent pieces have been constructed from spun steel domes, which Kneale cuts and realigns in abstract forms and finishes in a variety of ways.
In 1948, he won the Rome Prize, and spent his time travelling in Italy where he was greatly influenced by the work of the Futurists and metaphysical painters. His early ambition was to be a painter, and on returning to London in 1951 he started to paint using palette knives as a method of ‘constructing’ with paint. In 1960, having learnt welding techniques, Kneale turned to three–dimensional work and held his first exhibition of sculpture.
Kneale’s first solo show was held in 1954 with the Redfern Gallery, London. Retrospectives of his work were held at the Whitechapel Art Gallery, the Serpentine Gallery, London, and the Henry Moore Gallery. Aside from solo exhibitions, Kneale has also participated in many group shows, both in the UK and Europe including Battersea …
An overriding characteristic of Bryan Kneale’s work is an interest in linkages—the way in which separate forms are conjoined. Skeletons and joints of animals were explored through drawing and construction in metal. Kneale prefers to work directly in metal rather than modeling in an intermediary material before casting. Recent pieces have been constructed from spun steel domes, which Kneale cuts and realigns in abstract forms and finishes in a variety of ways.
In 1948, he won the Rome Prize, and spent his time travelling in Italy where he was greatly influenced by the work of the Futurists and metaphysical painters. His early ambition was to be a painter, and on returning to London in 1951 he started to paint using palette knives as a method of ‘constructing’ with paint. In 1960, having learnt welding techniques, Kneale turned to three–dimensional work and held his first exhibition of sculpture.
Kneale’s first solo show was held in 1954 with the Redfern Gallery, London. Retrospectives of his work were held at the Whitechapel Art Gallery, the Serpentine Gallery, London, and the Henry Moore Gallery. Aside from solo exhibitions, Kneale has also participated in many group shows, both in the UK and Europe including Battersea Park, London, Tate Gallery, London and Hayward Gallery. Kneale was elected Royal Academician in 1974, is a Trustee of the Royal Academy of Arts and a Senior Fellow of the Royal College of Art.
Courtesy of CASS Sculpture Foundation
British Museum, London
Contemporary Arts Society, London
Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
Glasgow City Gallery, Glasgow
Manx Museum, Isle of Man, UK
Museum of Modern Art, New York
National Galleries of Victoria, Southern Australia
National Gallery of New Zealand, Wellington
Natural History Museum, London
Oriel College, Oxford
Tate Britain, London, UK
Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
CASS Sculpture Foundation, West Sussex, UK
