Dennis Westwood 1928-2021: a retrospective exhibition of his bronzes and previously unseen drawings.
Gerber Fine Art is celebrating the life and work of the sculptor Dennis Westwood with a solo exhibition showcasing his elegant bronzes and previously unseen working drawings.
Inspired by the work of Hepworth and Brancusi, the genesis of his work originates from organic sources and self involvement within a landscape. Although trained in the figurative tradition, he was best noted for his abstract bronzes which have an extraordinary tactile and sensual nature. He explored the senses of touch and visual perception with the interweaving strands and continuum relating to the folds and trails of the landscape.
In his most recent pieces, he reconciled geometric or mechanical forms with organic forms within the same piece. “No one piece is finite: each is only a step in the process of discovery and change”. Westwood completed the technical work for the bronzes of grinding, polishing and patination creating the exquisite finishes on his sculptures.
Born in Essex in 1928, he trained at Wimbledon School of Art and the Royal College of Art, London studying under Frank Dobson and John Skeaping. A teacher of sculpture for many years, he was a visiting professor at Indiana University. He became head of sculpture at Carlisle College of Art and Stoke on Trent College of Art. Dennis first exhibited in the Young Contemporaries in London in 1954 and he had many one and two person shows in the UK and the US including solo exhibitions in The Laing, Newcastle; the Leicester Gallery, London; and Compass Gallery, Glasgow. He exhibited in many mixed exhibitions including the Royal Academy, London; the Royal Scottish academy; the SSA; and Abbott Hall. He completed several public commissions for universities, banks, corporate collections and air lines.
The exhibition will include the never previously exhibited powerful working drawings which showcases his wonderful draughtsmanship and the remaining casts in the editions of his bronzes.
We invite you to join us and Dennis’ family at the opening of the exhibition on the 22nd October. The work will also be available to view online on our website.
For further information and images please contact Jill (director), Jane (gallery administrator) or Annabel (gallery assistant) at:
0141 221 3095 or mail@gerberfineart.co.uk
