This short, chronological survey shows the uses of decorative sculpture in architecture: from inset terracotta reliefs that are part of the fabric of the building, to mosaics, murals, abstract forms and figurative sculpture that have been applied to a building as part of the architectural design scheme. The survey, which takes us through a range of works from the mid-nineteenth century to 2018, also illustrates the diverse and creative range of materials used, including bronze, aluminium, ceramic, fibreglass, and cement.
Narrative and Allegorical Reliefs of Children and Associated Decorative Carving 1853–1857
John Thomas (1813–1862) and Alexander Handyside Ritchie (1804–1870) and David Rhind (1808–1883)
Yellow sandstone
Curr Night Refuge Relief Sculpture 1881
Ireland & Maclaren (active c.1876–1887)
Relief Panels of Virtues, Royal Arms of Scotland, and Associated Carving 1928–1931
James Augustine Young (1871–1934) and Archibald Dawson (1892–1938)
Blaxter stone
H 180 x W 120 cm
Six Allegorical Relief Panels 1934–1935
Gilbert William Bayes (1872–1953)
Portland stone
H 180 x W 180 cm
Human Progress in Transport 1937–1938
Arthur Sherwood Edwards (1887–1960) and Charles Hayes (active 1937–1938) and J. C. Robinson (active 1937–1938)
Darley Dale stone
H 90 x W 120 cm
Brockington Reliefs 1952
Wilhelm Josef Soukop (1907–1995)
Concrete
H 90 x W 90 x D 20 cm
Loughborough University
Bianca Fischler von Treuberg (1913–1984)
Fibreglass
H 600 x W 170 x D 150 cm
Shakespeare Centre Abstract 1963
Douglas Wain-Hobson (1918–2001)
Bronze
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
Artist and Muse 1964
Fabio Barraclough (1923–2019)
Fibreglass
H 280 x W 210 x D 80 cm
Heritage Doncaster
County Hall Relief 1968
William Mitchell (1925–2020) and Jack Catchpole
Polymerised concrete & glass
H 250 x W 1200 x D 30 cm
Shoreditch College Golden Jubilee 1969 1969
Philip John Whitten (b.1922) (probably)
Metal
H 120 x W 420 cm
Brunel University London Arts Collection
Abstract Sculpture 1973
Richard Coley (1938–2009)
Fibreglass, anodised aluminium & polished steel
H 185 x W 185 cm
Abstract 1975
Richard Kindersley (b.1939)
Lead
H 120 x W 180 x D 15 cm
University of Exeter, Fine Art Collection
BHS Relief 1978 or before
Henry Collins (1910–1994) and Joyce Pallot (1912–2004)
Concrete
H 320 x W 2400 cm
Transport Panels 1980
Henry Collins (1910–1994) and Joyce Pallot (1912–2004)
Ceramic
H 260 x W 192 x D 16 cm
Austin Andrew Wright (1911–1997)
Aluminium
The University Gallery, Northumbria University
Four Relief Panels: The Modern Myth 1987–1988
Brian R. Kelly (b.1958)
Stone aggregate reinforced with resin
H 90 x W 90 cm
Scales of Life 2014
Elaine Shemilt (b.1954) and Jo White
Explore artists in this Curation
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Fabio Barraclough (1923–2019) -
Thomas Earp (1828–1893) -
Jack Faulds Sloan (b.1950) -
Richard Kindersley (b.1939) -
J. Keith Donnelly (b.1955) -
Alexander Handyside Ritchie (1804–1870) -
Maureen O'Kane (b.1961) -
Alexander Stoddart (b.1959) -
Gyula Bajo (1907–1984) -
William Mitchell (1925–2020) - View all 44