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.
Artists featured in this Curation:
John Thomas (1813–1862),
Alexander Handyside Ritchie (1804–1870),
David Rhind (1808–1883),
Ireland & Maclaren,
Henry Lord (1843–1926),
Thomas Earp (1828–1893),
James Augustine Young (1871–1934),
Archibald Dawson (1892–1938),
Eric Gill (1882–1940),
Gilbert William Bayes (1872–1953),
and 34 more
See all
Arthur Sherwood Edwards (1887–1960), Charles Hayes, J. C. Robinson, Wilhelm Josef Soukop (1907–1995), Gyula Bajo (1907–1984), Richard Browne (1921–1990), William Mitchell (1925–2020), Bianca Fischler von Treuberg (1913–1984), Douglas Wain-Hobson (1918–2001), Peter Lyon (1926–2002), Fabio Barraclough (1923–2019), Franta Belsky (1921–2000), Jack Catchpole, Philip John Whitten (b.1922), Antony Hollaway (1928–2000), unknown artist, Henry Collins (1910–1994), Joyce Pallot (1912–2004), Richard Coley (1938–2009), Richard Kindersley (b.1939), Duncan Newton (1945–2019), Austin Andrew Wright (1911–1997), J. Keith Donnelly (b.1955), Maggie Humphry, Brian R. Kelly (b.1958), Jack Faulds Sloan (b.1950), Alexander Stoddart (b.1959), Maureen O'Kane (b.1961), Giorgio Fanelli, Philippa Threlfall (b.1939), Jon Edgar (b.1968), Elaine Shemilt (b.1954), Jo White and
Jane Visick
44 artworks
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Narrative and Allegorical Reliefs of Children and Associated Decorative Carving
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
Image credit: Gordon Baird / Art UK
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Curr Night Refuge Relief Sculpture
Curr Night Refuge Relief Sculpture 1881
Ireland & Maclaren (active c.1876–1887)
Image credit: David Oudney / Art UK
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Peel Building Reliefs
Peel Building Reliefs 1896
Henry Lord (1843–1926) and Thomas Earp (1828–1893)
Terracotta
Image credit: Martin Henderson / Art UK
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Relief Panels of Virtues, Royal Arms of Scotland, and Associated Carving
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
Image credit: Gordon Baird / Art UK
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Ariel Learns Celestial Music
Ariel Learns Celestial Music 1932
Eric Gill (1882–1940)
Corsham stone
H 122 x W 183 cm
BBC
Image credit: BBC
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Six Allegorical Relief Panels
Six Allegorical Relief Panels 1934–1935
Gilbert William Bayes (1872–1953)
Portland stone
H 180 x W 180 cm
Image credit: Gordon Baird / Art UK
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Human Progress in Transport
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
© the copyright holder & © the copyright holder & © the copyright holder. Image credit: David Roberts / Art UK
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Brockington Reliefs
Brockington Reliefs 1952
Wilhelm Josef Soukop (1907–1995)
Concrete
H 90 x W 90 x D 20 cm
Loughborough University
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Loughborough University
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Co-operative Wholesale Society Mural 1958
Gyula Bajo (1907–1984)
Ceramic
H 823 x W 610 cm
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Simon Maddison / Art UK
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Family Group 1959
Richard Browne (1921–1990)
Bronze & concrete
H 200 x W 150 x D 50 cm
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Cliff Palmer/Art UK
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Heraldic Panel
Heraldic Panel
William Mitchell (1925–2020)
Concrete
H 150 x W 1083 x D 10 cm
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Tracy Jenkins / Art UK
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Quebec House Sculpture
Quebec House Sculpture 1961
Bianca Fischler von Treuberg (1913–1984)
Fibreglass
H 600 x W 170 x D 150 cm
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Mike Longhurst / Art UK
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Seven Reliefs
Seven Reliefs
William Mitchell (1925–2020)
Concrete
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Tracy Jenkins / Art UK
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Shakespeare Centre Abstract
Shakespeare Centre Abstract 1963
Douglas Wain-Hobson (1918–2001)
Bronze
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
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Wall Sculpture
Wall Sculpture 1964
Peter Lyon (1926–2002)
Aluminium
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Simon Maddison / Art UK
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Artist and Muse
Artist and Muse 1964
Fabio Barraclough (1923–2019)
Fibreglass
H 280 x W 210 x D 80 cm
Heritage Doncaster
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Heritage Doncaster
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Epicentre
Epicentre 1964
Franta Belsky (1921–2000)
Fibreglass
H 320 x W 280 x D 50 cm
Heritage Doncaster
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Heritage Doncaster
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County Hall Relief
County Hall Relief 1968
William Mitchell (1925–2020) and Jack Catchpole
Polymerised concrete & glass
H 250 x W 1200 x D 30 cm
© the copyright holders. Image credit: Andrew Lloyd / Art UK
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Shoreditch College Golden Jubilee 1969
Shoreditch College Golden Jubilee 1969 1969
Philip John Whitten (b.1922) (probably)
Metal
H 120 x W 420 cm
Brunel University London Arts Collection
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Brunel University London Arts Collection
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Wall Sculpture
Wall Sculpture c.1970
Antony Hollaway (1928–2000)
Metal
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Simon Maddison / Art UK
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Market Development Mural
Market Development Mural c.1970
Antony Hollaway (1928–2000)
Stainless steel
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Simon Maddison / Art UK
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Four Triangles*
Four Triangles*
unknown artist
Polished metal
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Martin Henderson / Art UK
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Hitchin History Mural 1972
Henry Collins (1910–1994) and Joyce Pallot (1912–2004)
Concrete
© the estates of Henry Collins & Joyce Pallot. Image credit: Simon Maddison / Art UK
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Abstract Sculpture 1973
Richard Coley (1938–2009)
Fibreglass, anodised aluminium & polished steel
H 185 x W 185 cm
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Gordon Baird / Art UK
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Abstract 1975
Richard Kindersley (b.1939)
Lead
H 120 x W 180 x D 15 cm
University of Exeter, Fine Art Collection
© the copyright holder. Image credit: University of Exeter, Fine Art Collection
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Three Sculptural Reliefs
Three Sculptural Reliefs 1976
Henry Collins (1910–1994) and Joyce Pallot (1912–2004)
Concrete
© the estates of Henry Collins & Joyce Pallot. Image credit: Lawrence Suss / Art UK
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BHS Relief
BHS Relief 1978 or before
Henry Collins (1910–1994) and Joyce Pallot (1912–2004)
Concrete
H 320 x W 2400 cm
© the estates of Henry Collins & Joyce Pallot. Image credit: Fiona Matthewson / Art UK
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Mural 1978
Duncan Newton (1945–2019)
Painted metal
University of Surrey
© the artist's estate. Image credit: University of Surrey
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Mural
unknown artist
Painted clay
University of Surrey
© the copyright holder. Image credit: University of Surrey
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Transport Panels
Transport Panels 1980
Henry Collins (1910–1994) and Joyce Pallot (1912–2004)
Ceramic
H 260 x W 192 x D 16 cm
© the estates of Henry Collins & Joyce Pallot. Image credit: Mike Longhurst / Art UK
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Aluminium Steel Mural 1981
Austin Andrew Wright (1911–1997)
Aluminium
The University Gallery, Northumbria University
© the artist's estate. Image credit: The University Gallery, Northumbria University
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Ceramic Panels
Ceramic Panels 1982–1983
J. Keith Donnelly (b.1955)
Ceramic
© the artist. Image credit: David Oudney / Art UK
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Kings Mural
Kings Mural 1985
Maggie Humphry
Ceramic
H 122 x W 252 x D 2 cm
© the artist. Image credit: Mike Longhurst / Art UK
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Dove of Peace
Dove of Peace
unknown artist
Brick
H 350 x W 230 cm
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Mike Longhurst / Art UK
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Four Relief Panels: The Modern Myth
Four Relief Panels: The Modern Myth 1987–1988
Brian R. Kelly (b.1958)
Stone aggregate reinforced with resin
H 90 x W 90 cm
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Gordon Baird / Art UK
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Guardians and Mythological Panels
Guardians and Mythological Panels 1988–1990
Jack Faulds Sloan (b.1950)
Galvanised steel
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Gordon Baird / Art UK
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Sculpture Scheme
Sculpture Scheme 1994
Alexander Stoddart (b.1959) and Jack Faulds Sloan (b.1950)
Bronze
© the artist & © the copyright holder. Image credit: Gordon Baird / Art UK
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Mosaic 2000
Maureen O'Kane (b.1961)
Ceramic & stone tiles
H 175 x W 320 cm
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Tony Bennett / Art UK
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Two Rivers: Brick Carving
Two Rivers: Brick Carving c.2001
Richard Kindersley (b.1939)
Brick
H 184 x W 242 x D 3 cm
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Mike Longhurst / Art UK
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Roman Frieze
Roman Frieze 2002
Giorgio Fanelli
Terracotta
H 225 x W 500 x D 10 cm
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Mike Longhurst / Art UK
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Mural 2010
Philippa Threlfall (b.1939)
Terracotta
H 120 x W 270 cm
© the artist. Image credit: Fiona Matthewson / Art UK
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Charmer 2012
Jon Edgar (b.1968)
Bronze
H 80 x W 45 x D 2.5 cm
University of Surrey
© the artist. Image credit: University of Surrey
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Scales of Life
Scales of Life 2014
Elaine Shemilt (b.1954) and Jo White
© Elaine Shemilt (Artist) & Jo White (Architect). Image credit: David Oudney / Art UK
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Umbrella of Support 2018
Jane Visick (active 2018)
Ceramic
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Simon Maddison / Art UK
Explore artists in this Curation
View all 44-
Fabio Barraclough (1923–2019)
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Thomas Earp (1828–1893) -
Jack Faulds Sloan (b.1950) -
Richard Kindersley (b.1939)
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J. Keith Donnelly (b.1955)
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Alexander Handyside Ritchie (1804–1870) -
Maureen O'Kane (b.1961)
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Alexander Stoddart (b.1959) -
Gyula Bajo (1907–1984) -
William Mitchell (1925–2020) - View all 44