Grenville Davey
Encyclopedia
Grenville Davey is an English
sculptor
and winner of the 1992 Turner Prize
.
He is a professor of the University of East London
(formerly North East London Polytechnic) school of Architecture and the Visual Arts. From December 2010 he became resident artist at the physics department of Queen Mary, University of London, working with Dr David Berman.
, Davey first studied art
in Exeter before going to Goldsmiths College
in London
in 1985 where he took a diploma in fine art. His first solo show was at the Lisson Gallery in London in 1987.
and Richard Deacon and shows a similar interest in industrial materials. The simplicity of his forms shows an affinity with minimalism
. Many of his works make references to everyday objects which if exhibited in themselves would be readymades.
Button, a metre and a half wide clothes button made in steel
, is a typical early work. Later works, such as Gold (Table) (a table as tall as a human) are larger in size.
Primarily a sculptor, Davey produced a series of 12 prints with five other artists including etchings and screenprints.
in 1992. Entitled HAL, the work comprised two abstract steel objects, each measuring 244 x 122 cm (96 x 48 in).
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
sculptor
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
and winner of the 1992 Turner Prize
Turner Prize
The Turner Prize, named after the painter J. M. W. Turner, is an annual prize presented to a British visual artist under the age of 50. Awarding the prize is organised by the Tate gallery and staged at Tate Britain. Since its beginnings in 1984 it has become the United Kingdom's most publicised...
.
He is a professor of the University of East London
University of East London
The University of East London is a university located in the London Borough of Newham, East London, England, based at two campuses in Stratford and Docklands areas...
(formerly North East London Polytechnic) school of Architecture and the Visual Arts. From December 2010 he became resident artist at the physics department of Queen Mary, University of London, working with Dr David Berman.
Early life
Born in Launceston, CornwallCornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, Davey first studied art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
in Exeter before going to Goldsmiths College
Goldsmiths College
Goldsmiths, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom which specialises in the arts, humanities and social sciences, and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It was founded in 1891 as Goldsmiths' Technical and Recreative Institute...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1985 where he took a diploma in fine art. His first solo show was at the Lisson Gallery in London in 1987.
Personal life
He is happily married to the conceptual artist Victoria Burton-Davey. They have two children.Work
Davey's work is influenced by the work of sculptors such as Tony CraggTony Cragg
Tony Cragg is a British visual artist specialized in sculpture. He is currently the director of the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf.-Early life:Cragg was born in Liverpool in 1949...
and Richard Deacon and shows a similar interest in industrial materials. The simplicity of his forms shows an affinity with minimalism
Minimalism
Minimalism describes movements in various forms of art and design, especially visual art and music, where the work is set out to expose the essence, essentials or identity of a subject through eliminating all non-essential forms, features or concepts...
. Many of his works make references to everyday objects which if exhibited in themselves would be readymades.
Button, a metre and a half wide clothes button made in steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
, is a typical early work. Later works, such as Gold (Table) (a table as tall as a human) are larger in size.
Primarily a sculptor, Davey produced a series of 12 prints with five other artists including etchings and screenprints.
Awards
Davey won the Tate's Turner PrizeTurner Prize
The Turner Prize, named after the painter J. M. W. Turner, is an annual prize presented to a British visual artist under the age of 50. Awarding the prize is organised by the Tate gallery and staged at Tate Britain. Since its beginnings in 1984 it has become the United Kingdom's most publicised...
in 1992. Entitled HAL, the work comprised two abstract steel objects, each measuring 244 x 122 cm (96 x 48 in).
External links
- Grenville Davey at sculpture.org.uk
- Architecture and the Visual Arts