Bryan Kneale

Bryan Kneale was born in Douglas, Isle of Man, in 1930. He studied at Douglas School of Art (1947) and at the Royal Academy Schools, London (1948-52). In 1948 he won the Rome Prize, and spent his time travelling in Italy where he was greatly influenced by the work of the Futurists and metaphysical painters. His early ambition was to be…

Bryan Kneale was born in Douglas, Isle of Man, in 1930. He studied at Douglas School of Art (1947) and at the Royal Academy Schools, London (1948-52). In 1948 he won the Rome Prize, and spent his time travelling in Italy where he was greatly influenced by the work of the Futurists and metaphysical painters. His early ambition was to be a painter, and on returning to London in 1951 he started to paint using palette knives as a method of 'constructing' with paint. In 1960, having learnt welding techniques, Bryan Kneale turned to three dimensions and held his first exhibition of sculpture.

A teacher for most of his career, Kneale was Head of Sculpture at Hornsey College of Art and Design (1968) and Professor of Sculpture at the Royal Academy Schools (1980-87). He held successive posts at the Royal College of Art, as Tutor (1963-80), Senior Tutor (1980-85), Head of Sculpture (1985-90) and Professor of Drawing (1990-95). There is no doubt that teaching had the effect of slowing Kneale's progression as a sculptor, and since his retirement form the Royal College in 1995 his work has been prolific. An overriding characteristic in his work is an emphasis on linkages: the way in which separate forms are conjoined. Skeletons and joints of animals were explored through drawing and construction in metal. Kneale prefers to work directly in metal rather than modeling in an intermediary material before casting. Recent pieces have been constructed from spun steel domes, which he cuts and realigns in abstract forms and finishes in a variety of ways.

Kneale has maintained a busy exhibition schedule, with regular solo shows since 1953 and group exhibitions since 1961. He has shown in Britain with occasional exhibitions abroad, and his work is represented in collections from Australia and New Zealand to Brazil and the United States of America.