Artist of the day: Artist of the day, February 13: Richard Deacon, Welsh abstract sculptor

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Artist of the day, February 13: Richard Deacon, Welsh abstract sculptor

Richard Deacon (1949) is a Welsh abstract sculptor. He received his education at the Somerset College of Art in Taunton (1968), Central Saint Martin’s School of Art in London (1970–1973), and the Royal College of Art (1974–1977). He has a MA in environmental media.

Deacon’s work consists of small-scale items that can be shown in museums and galleries, as well as larger pieces that are more suited for occasions such as dance performances or special events. In 1993, he worked on set designs and costumes with the producers of a major dance show. Deacon is known for creating pieces that combine human elements with materials such as wood, metal, and sometimes plastic. He refers to himself as being a fabricator rather than a sculptor. The artwork he created early in his career features sleek and curvy shapes. In his work, metal pieces are often twisted and bent into shapes that refer to the inner and outer workings of the human body. He frequently laminates wood and makes it into large shapes of ribbons.

Many countries have offered Deacon the opportunity to create work for them on a large scale. Deacon’s work has been exhibited throughout the world in solo shows and in international surveys. He represented Wales in 2007 at the Venice Biennale. In 2008, he was one of only five artists who were selected to work on the Angel of the South project. In 1987, Deacon received the Turner Prize, and was selected as a Commander of the British Empire in the 1999 New Year Honors’ List.

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