Philip King (sculptor)
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Philip King (b. 1934) is one of Britain's most restless and innovative sculptors. He is one of Anthony Caro's best known students, even though the two artists are near contemporaries. Their education followed similar trajectories and they both worked as assistants to Henry Moore.
In 1990 King was made Professor Emeritus of the Royal College and is now the President of the Royal Academy of Art. In 1992 William Feaver wrote in London's Observer that King is "the one sculptor of his generation prepared to jettison what he has proved himself good at in order to explore what cannot be programmed."
King proved Feaver correct by turning unexpectedly to Japan and ceramics in 1993 and two years later making the powerful unglazed, vessel-themed works which are the focus of this exhibition. In Phillip King, (Electa Editions) Richard Cork wrote about these sculptures: "Often pierced from one side to the other and interrupted by renegade protuberances, they end up conveying more emotional conflict than initially seems possible. But they possess optimism as well… That is why he is such a rewarding artist, and why each distinct phase in his ceaselessly resourceful career adds to the richness of his achievement." This exhibition is presented through the Bernard Jacobson Gallery, London, which is concurrently exhibiting “Phillip King: Step Over Color.” The ceramics were shown at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, UK in 1996, and a forty-page catalog is available from the gallery bookstore at www.garthclark.com