Bernard Meadows
Encyclopedia
Bernard Meadows was a British modernist sculptor. He was part of the 'Geometry of fear school', a loose-knit group of British sculptors whose prominence was established at the 1952 Venice Biennale
.
and Norwich School of Art and became Henry Moore
's first assistant.
in World War II
he found acclaim. His Elm figure for the 1951 Festival of Britain
went to the Tate
. He exhibited at the Venice Biennale
a year later. He exhibited from New York City
to Tokyo
and produced a stream of public and private art in Britain and beyond. His edgy pieces often based on animals and seemingly carved from shrapnel could imply Cold War
menace. But teaching commitments came at the expense of his own work. He returned to assist Moore from 1977 and continued to help his mentor's estate. He became Professor of Sculpture at the Royal College of Art
London between 1960 and 1980.
in 1968 at Prospect House, Norwich. The sculpture is on permanent display outside the building together with prints and drawings in the Prospect House foyer. Also on display an illustrated panel telling the story of Bernard Meadows and Public Sculpture.
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
.
Early life
He was educated at the City of Norwich SchoolCity of Norwich School
The Eaton School, more commonly known as CNS, is a secondary comprehensive school situated in Norwich, Norfolk on Eaton Road.-Admissions:It has over 1500 pupils and currently employs over 190 staff...
and Norwich School of Art and became Henry Moore
Henry Moore
Henry Spencer Moore OM CH FBA was an English sculptor and artist. He was best known for his semi-abstract monumental bronze sculptures which are located around the world as public works of art....
's first assistant.
Career
After service in the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he found acclaim. His Elm figure for the 1951 Festival of Britain
Festival of Britain
The Festival of Britain was a national exhibition in Britain in the summer of 1951. It was organised by the government to give Britons a feeling of recovery in the aftermath of war and to promote good quality design in the rebuilding of British towns and cities. The Festival's centrepiece was in...
went to the Tate
Tate
-Places:*Tate, Georgia, a town in the United States*Tate County, Mississippi, a county in the United States*Táté, the Hungarian name for Totoi village, Sântimbru Commune, Alba County, Romania*Tate, Filipino word for States...
. He exhibited at the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
a year later. He exhibited from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and produced a stream of public and private art in Britain and beyond. His edgy pieces often based on animals and seemingly carved from shrapnel could imply Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
menace. But teaching commitments came at the expense of his own work. He returned to assist Moore from 1977 and continued to help his mentor's estate. He became Professor of Sculpture at the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
London between 1960 and 1980.
Public sculpture
His work entitled Public Sculpture a controversial assembly of stone blocks and balls of dripping and dimpled metal was commissioned for the Eastern Daily PressEastern Daily Press
The Eastern Daily Press, commonly referred to as the EDP, is a regional newspaper covering Norfolk, and northern parts of Suffolk and eastern Cambridgeshire, and is published daily in Norwich, UK....
in 1968 at Prospect House, Norwich. The sculpture is on permanent display outside the building together with prints and drawings in the Prospect House foyer. Also on display an illustrated panel telling the story of Bernard Meadows and Public Sculpture.