If Phillip King is not yet a familiar name, it will be soon, thanks to three appearances in London this summer by the octogenarian British sculptor.
The largest is a condensed survey of his career at Thomas Dane Gallery. Nine Works from the 1960s to today are on show, and most famously 'Rosebud' - a giant pink and blue plastic cone created in 1962. (A sister cone, 'Twilight', was sold during Frieze Masters last year for a six figure sum.)
'King has always been fascinated with the apex as a shape,' explains François Chantala, a partner at the Thomas Dane Gallery, who first approached King in 2012 with the idea of a show. Throughout his 50-year career, King has referenced tents, tepees and wigwams (he refers to two objects leaning together as 'a primal act of sculpture') in materials from concrete to steel to wood to plaster.
King trained under Anthony Caro at Central Saint Martins in the late 1950s and went on to assist Henry Moore. He became a fixture among the British avant garde and in 1968 represented Britain - along with Bridget Riley - at the Venice Biennale.
At one end of the gallery is 'Blue Blaze', a series of ultramarine abstract sculptures which look like an upturned stage set and are inspired by ancient Greek ruins. 'Spectrum' (2007) is a series of dazzlingly coloured boxes. It demonstrates King's skills as a colourist, walong with his masterful use of materials forms.
Down the road in an upstairs gallery is a family of white sculptures. Among them is 'Window Piece' (1960), a concrete window, half open, (or half closed?) and 'In and Out' which was created specifically for the exhibition. It combines King's signature bright colours, organic and abstract shapes and different materials. 'It's almost like a Best Of,' explains Chantala.
King also created huge public sculptures, the most famous of which, 'Clarion', stands in Fulham Broadway. This month, the Thomas Dane Gallery is exhibiting nine others, including 'Genghis Kahn' (his most famous winged cone) and the 8-metre 'High, Sky and Bling' in the Ranelagh Gardens of the Royal Hospital Chelsea during Masterpiece (26 June - 25 August).
From 1999 to 2004, King was president of the Royal Academy. In what is a further celebration of his 80th birthday this year, a second edition of his new sculpture 'Skyhook' (another is at Thomas Dane Gallery) forms part of the gallery's summer exhibition.
Nine Works from the 1960s to today are featured in the octogenarian's exhibition including 'Genghis Khan' 1963. Courtesy of Phillip King and Thomas Dane Gallery
The famous 'Rosebud' by Phillip King, 1962, is a highlight of the show. It's sister cone, 'Twilight', was sold during Frieze Masters last year for a six figure sum.
'King has always been fascinated with the apex as a shape,' explains François Chantala, a partner at Thomas Dane. 'Sure Place' by Phillip King, 1976-7,Courtesy of Thomas Dane Gallery
Throughout his 50-year career, King has referenced tents, tepees and wigwams in materials from concrete to steel to wood to plaster. Pictured: 'In and Out' by Phillip King at Thomas Dane Gallery. Courtesy of Thomas Dane Gallery
A portrait of the artist who celebrated his 80th birthday this year.
King's studio in West London
ADDRESS
Thomas Dane Gallery
11 Duke Street St James's
London SW1Y 6BN
-
How architects are redefining disaster relief through designDisaster relief architecture is a critical component of humanitarian aid across the globe; read our ultimate guide on how architects can make a difference through design
-
Paul Gulati on storytelling, multi-sensory design and the evolution of Universal Design Studio'f a space works – not just as a beautiful image, but for the people using it – then we’ve done our job,' he tells us
-
Seiko and Datsun mark a shared heritage and history with three new limited-edition watchesThe Japanese brands pay tribute to the Datsun 240Z and Prospex Speedtimer in a new collaboration
-
Out of office: the Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekAnother week, another flurry of events, opening and excursions showcasing the best of culture and entertainment at home and abroad. Catch our editors at Scandi festivals, iconic jazz clubs, and running the length of Manhattan…
-
Out of office: the Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekThe Wallpaper* team immersed themselves in culture this week, attending theatre, music and art performances and exhibitions at some of London’s most esteemed establishments. Along the way, we may have discovered the city's best salad…
-
Out of office: the Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekIt’s been another week of Wallpaper* being first through the door – visiting, sampling and reporting back on the freshest in art, design, beauty and more. Highlights included a new rental development, skincare residency and Edinburgh hotel…
-
Get the picture? A new exhibition explores the beautiful simplicity of Japanese pictogramsThe simple, minimalist forms of a pictogram are uniquely Japanese, as new exhibition 'Pictograms: Iconic Japanese Designs' illustrates
-
From Snapchat dysmorphia to looksmaxing, have digital beauty standards made us lose sight of what's real, asks a new exhibitionAI, social media and the ease with which we can tweak our face mean we're heading towards a dystopian beauty future, argues 'Virtual Beauty' at Somerset House
-
Take a rare peek inside eighties London's most famous clubFrom George Michael to Boy George, photographer David Koppel captured a who's who of celerities at Eighties nightclub Limelight
-
Thirty-five years after its creation, Lynn Hershman Leeson’s seminal video is as poignant as everLynn Hershman Leeson’s 'Desire Inc', at 243 Luz in Margate, blurs the boundaries between art and reality
-
Rolf Sachs’ largest exhibition to date, ‘Be-rühren’, is a playful study of touchA collection of over 150 of Rolf Sachs’ works speaks to his preoccupation with transforming everyday objects to create art that is sensory – both emotionally and physically
