Geoffrey Clarke was born in Darley Dale, Derbyshire. He studied at Manchester School of Art and, following service with RAF during World War II, at the Royal College of Art in London. He was awarded a Royal College Travelling Scholarship in 1951 and also received the silver medal at the Milan Triennale for collaboration with Robin Day, the furniture designer. He returned to the Royal College from 1968 - 1973, where he was Head of Light Transmission and Projection Development. His first solo exhibition was held at Gimpel Fils Gallery, London in 1952; the same year his work was shown at the Venice Biennale. He was one of the group of young sculptors who came to prominence in the post-war austerity years. Their work, based on the human figure, acknowledged the influence of Henry Moore but was altogether bleaker in keeping with the mood of the time. The many prints Clarke made at the time incorporated the same figurative symbolism as his welded iron sculptures. Between 1949 - 1951 he made a series of over 30 aquatints and produced another group between 1953 - 1956 before turning to monotype. All were printed on steel plates and involved various experimental techniques.

Further reading:
Geoffrey Clarke Early Engraved Work and Iron Sculpture, Taranman Gallery, London 1976

 

http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2011/apr/12/geoffrey-clarke-obituary

www.royalacademy.org.uk

Glossary

  • Monotype

    The artist may draw or paint onto a surface such as glass or metal and then press paper onto the image to take its impression. Because the ink or other medium is transferred to the paper only one good impression can be made.

See in

  • Art Project