Geoffrey Clarke

de Judith LeGrove

Geoffrey Clarke: a sculptor's materials' is the first monograph to address the full range of this artist's work, from stained glass to sculpture, jewellery to textiles, land art to medals. Initially trained in stained glass, Geoffrey Clarke (1924-2014) came to international recognition in 1952, as one of the young British sculptors who exhibited at the Venice Biennale. He rapidly became one of the most frequently commissioned architectural sculptors of the mid-twentieth century, developing an innovative casting technique using aluminium and establishing his own foundry at his home in Suffolk. Clarke's versatility secured him commissions from banks, offices, universities and cathedrals (most notably, Coventry), which he approached with characteristic verve. Many of these works, sadly neglected, are now finding new audiences: Spirit of Electricity (1958-61) and Spiral Nebula (1962) were both listed Grade II by Historic England in 2016.