Robert Adams 1917-1984
Three Vertical Forms, 1950/1
oak
29¾ H ins


Exhibited
Gimpel Fils, London, 1951
Victor Waddington Gallery, Dublin, 1954, cat no.10
Arts Council Touring Retrospective Exhibition, cat no.4
City Art Gallery, Northampton, Sheffield, Newcastle and Camden Arts Centre, London

Literature
Alastair Grieve, The Sculpture of Robert Adams, Henry Moore Foundation, cat no.115

Biography

Adams was a prominent member of the post-war abstract circle that consisted of Victor Pasmore, Kenneth and Mary Martin, Adrian Heath, Roger Hilton, Terry Frost, Anthony Hill and William Scott.

Sculptor of abstract and monumental works, designer and lithographer. Born in Northampton, Adams studied at the School of Art there in 1933, although later (from 1938-1944) he had to make his living at various jobs while he studied part-time.

At first influenced by Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth, he later turned to non-figurative work, notably that of Brancusi and Gonzalez. He taught sculpture at Central School of Arts and Crafts 1949-60. He exhibited with Gimpel Fils through the 1950's (his first one-man show was held there in 1947). Gained a reputation as one of Britain's foremost abstract sculptors working in wood, brass and stone. Exhibited internationally during the 1950's and '60's; Galerie Jeanne Boucher, Paris in 1949, Douglas College, New Jersey in 1955, Bertha Schaefer Gallery, New York in 1963. Had a retrospective exhibition at Ferens Art Gallery, Hull and Hatton Gallery, Newcastle in 1963. Adams represented Britain in a number of international group exhibitions including 'First International Exhibition of Sculpture, Musee Rodin, Paris, 1955', 'Ten Young British Sculptors - Sao Paulo Biennale, Brazil, 1955' and Venice Biennale in 1962.

A retrospective of his work was held at the Northampton Art Gallery in 1971.

He lived at Great Maplestead, Halstead in Essex.