Angela Conner

Angela Conner FRBS is an English sculptor who works in London. Conner has exhibited internationally and has large scale sculptures in public and private collections around the world.

In her early life as a sculptor, Conner assisted Barbara Hepworth.^[1] Conner's kinetic sculptures are concerned with utilizing "natural elements like water, sun, gravity or wind to create mobiles that entice viewers to stop and watch their gentle movement".^[2] The movement of Conner’s sculptures entirely depend on the natural forces they react with and not electricity. "If mankind were suddenly to die out, and if as a result there were no artificial power, the sculpture would still continue its pattern of opening and revealing, then closing and embracing" -Rob Cassy garden designer describing 'Revelation'; declared one of England's best water features by Country Life magazine.^[3]

'Revelation' kinetic water sculpture by Angela Conner, at Chatsworth House

Unfortunately, claims that her sculptures would still continue to function sans human life, reality is that electricity does power her sculptures everywhere they are connected to a water utility rather than a spring or artesian well.

In her long career Conner has created many notable large scale kinetic sculptures which are entirely powered by natural forces. Conner's 129 ft water and wind sculpture 'Wave'^[4] at Park West Dublin is possibly the tallest kinetic water and wind sculpture in Europe.

'Wave' 129ft wind and water sculpture by Angela Conner, at Park West in Dublin

'Rising Universe' (Shelley Fountain) kinetic water sculpture by Angela Conner - geograph.org.uk - 657948

Conner is also well known for her enigmatic figurative work modeled from life, which "on an intimate and personal level probe the character behind the mask".^[5] Conner has created posthumous portraits but prefers to work from life, -"working from life is a form, perhaps, of an osmosis. It has to be done by instinct; its not something you can do intellectually."^[5] Chatsworth House has a collection of 14 bronze busts^[6] located in the grounds, including portraits of Lucian Freud, The Eleventh Duke of Devonshire, Harold Macmillan, Roy Strong and John Betjeman. Conner was commissioned to sculpt from life Queen Elizabeth II by the Knights of the Garter^[7] to celebrate The Queen’s 80th birthday.^[8]^[9]

In 1982 Conner created a memorial fountain to honour those repatriated as a result of the Yalta Conference following World War II. It was repeatedly damaged, so Connor raised funds for a second memorial, Twelve Responses to Tragedy which was dedicated in 1986. The monument stands in the Yalta Memorial Garden in South Kensington.^[10]^[11]

Conner's 12 busts atop the Twelve Responses to Tragedy memorial.

Conner's statue of Laurence Olivier playing Hamlet was commissioned to celebrate the centenary of his birth and is located on the South Bank opposite the National Theatre.

Commissions

Kinetic Sculpture

'Revelation', Chatsworth House
'Rising Universe', (also known as Cosmic Cycle or the Shelley Fountain) Horsham (demolished 2016)
'Big Tipper', Bad Driburg Spa Gardens, Germany
'Libra', Lovells, London
'Wave', Park West, Ireland
'Threshold', Darlington Arts Centre, Darlington
'Arpeggio', Heinz Hall Plaza, Pittsburgh, U.S.A.
'Life Force', Boughton House
'Poise', Chesterfield UK, Park West Ireland, and Chattanooga USA
'Tipping Triangles', Aston University

Figurative Work

Queen Elizabeth II, Commissioned by the Knights of the Garter for The Queen's 80th birthday
Laurence Olivier Statue, National Theatre, South Bank, London
Statue of Laurence Olivier, South Bank, London
for the centenary of Olivier's birth
The Queen Mother, Cheltenham Racecourse^[12]
Charles De Gaulle, Carlton Gardens, London^[13]
David Stirling, Doune, Scotland, and Hereford, England^[14]
Elizabeth Frink, Chatsworth House
Noël Coward Statue, at Firefly Estate, Jamaica
Roy Strong
Collections 14 of Angela Conner's Bronze Busts^[15] at Chatsworth House

Exhibitions

Solo Shows

Galerie Piece Unique, Paris 2008
Inner Temple Gardens, Embankment, London 2004
'The Chaos Factor', Browse and Darby, London 1989^[16]
'Sculptures for Landscape', Browse and Darby, London 1986^[17]
Hirschl Gallery, Cork St, London
Library and Museum of the Performing Arts, Lincoln Centre, New York 1971
The Economist Plaza, London

Group Shows

Sculpture in the Garden 2014: 'The Visionary Landscape of Professor Sir Robert Burgess', Leicester University 2014^[18]
'Elemental', Burghley Sculpture Garden 2014^[19]
'A Celebration of Modern British Sculpture'Beaux Arts, Cork St, London 2012^[20]^[21]^[22]
The Jerwood Collection, Ragley Hall 2011^[23]^[24]

Awards and Honors

Kinetic Art Organisation^[25] Award 1st Prize
Business 2 Art Award
American Institute of Architects, Honor Award for Sculpture and Co-design of Plaza Garden, Heinz Hall Pittsburgh U.S.A. 1985
British Council Award for Refurbishment to Town Centre
Fellow of The Royal British Society of Sculptors
2013 Fellow of the Hereford College of Art^[26]

Personal life

Conner is married to the photographer John Bulmer who often videos and photographs her sculptures. The couple live at Monnington on Wye, where they breed and train Morgan horses.^[27]^[28]^[29]

External links

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