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Summer Pangolin London will host the first major solo show in Europe by acclaimed
American sculptor Bruce Beasley. Known for his astounding sculptures, Beasley’s cubic
structures as much explore the simple beauty of shape as they do mass and geometry.
Bruce Beasley was born in 1939 in Los Angeles, California and since being introduced to
metalworking in school then later studying at Dartmouth college at a time where it had made
a huge commitment to sculpture has been an integral component to the world of art. Beasley’s
inspiration originates predominantly from organic structures and through both observation and
investigation he has developed his own unique language that is instantly recognisable.
“Nature arrives at this perfect point between change and stillness, between form that is evolving
and form that is complete; nature does this most easily and with rare mistakes. Nature remains
the ideal guide and the great resource; without it, there is no warmth, no heart and I insist that
my work have both.” Bruce Beasley
In 1962 Bruce Beasley acquired a run down old warehouse where he proceeded to build a
foundry in which to invent new processes and create his own individual works. Beasley’s
signature display of fluidity and movement began to become noticed and as a result he
became the youngest artist ever to be collected by MOMA New York and at the same age also
had pieces bought by the Pompidou centre in Paris. His work now resides within a number of
private and public museum collections worldwide.
Within the work included in the exhibition at Pangolin London Beasley’s appreciation for both
early modernist and romantic tradition is apparent, however it is the attention to form and his
use of abstraction that is showcased clearly here. The many experiences during Bruce’s travels
throughout his lifetime all hugely contribute to the appearance of his work but it is first and
foremost his unusual preparatory approach that is the key factor within his sculpture.
Beasley’s intersecting of geometric forms and sometimes apparent defiance of gravity is
partly due to the talented use of a 3D computer software system which he helped formulate
and is used before any of the practical handling has even taken place. This tool for arranging
helps the artist to realise what often originally seems an impossibility and combined with the
artist’s skill and tireless commitment is what gives the work such emotive movement and life.
Pangolin London are proud to present this representative selection of Bruce Beasley’s later
work and as a result of their commitment and valued relationship with the artist they will also
be including a special limited edition work that is exclusive to Pangolin and recently cast at
the affiliated foundry Pangolin Editions.
A fully illustrated catalogue and hardback publication will also accompany the exhibition.
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