Sculpture Today by Judith Collins

Product Details

Synopsis

Over the past three decades, sculpture has retaken its position at the forefront of contemporary art, with artists redefining the medium in remarkable and revolutionary ways. SCULPTURE TODAY is the only book to provide such a wide-ranging and richly-illustrated overview of contemporary sculpture. Thematic chapters examine the diverse subjects that have inspired sculptors in recent years, including the body, gravity, color, light, architecture, and clothing. A wide range of works is discussed, offering an insight into the incredible range of ideas, styles, materials, techniques, and locations explored in this versatile genre. This authoritative yet accessible text ensures the book's appeal to a wide range of readers.

Jack Perry Brown - Library Journal

Curator Collins (Tate, London; Andy Goldsworthy: Midsummer Snowballs) has done a great deal of research for this survey of sculpture since 1975; her discussions of individual works are frequently illuminating and well phrased, and she clearly and reasonably conveys each chapter's general thesis. After a brief introduction, 17 thematic chapters-e.g., on the figure, postpop objects, gravity, monumentality-cover sculpture with great breadth and substantial perception. The thematic structure forms a useful armature for discussion, successfully reflecting the international nature of sculptural art in the last three decades (it also, however, breaks up some of the artists' works into different contexts). Though generously illustrated with photographs that reproduce well on the heavy matte stock, the light typewriter-font text is very difficult to read, and the inadequate binding may quickly prove problematic for libraries. Still, the book has its strengths. Recommended for all art collections.

Biography

Dr. Judith Collins is an international authority on sculpture. She studied at Edinburgh University and the Courtauld Institute of Art, London, and worked with the Arts Council and the Hayward Gallery before becoming Senior Curator at Tate, London. She is the author of a wide range of books, which include THE OMEGA WORKSHOPS (1983), THE ORIGINS OF THE ROMANESQUE (1983), ERIC GILL: THE SCULPTURE (1993), and ANDY GOLDSWORTHY: MIDSUMMER SNOWBALLS (2001). Collins has written exhibition catalogues on numerous artists including Eduardo Paolozzi, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Lynn Chadwick, Elisabeth Frink, Magdalena Abakanowicz, David Nash, and Carl Plackman. She has also worked in radio and lectures throughout Europe and the United States.