Gerda Frömel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gerda Frömel
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Gerda Frömel
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| Born | 1931 Šumperk, Czechoslovakia
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| Died | 3 August 1975 County Mayo, Ireland
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| Nationality | Irish, German |
| Known for | Sculpture |
Gerda Frömel (1931 – 3 August 1975) was a talented sculptor. She was born in Czechoslovakia. Later, she lived for a long time in Ireland. Her artwork was highly praised there.
She created sculptures and stained glass windows for various projects. Her work was shown in important art exhibitions. These included the Irish Exhibition of Living Art and The Dawson Gallery. She also won several awards for her art. These awards came from groups like the Arts Council and the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland.
About Gerda's Life
Gerda Frömel was born in Czechoslovakia in 1931. She was the oldest of four sisters. Her mother was Austrian and her father was German. After Second World War in 1945, her family had to leave their home. They became refugees and tried to settle in Austria. Finally, they moved to Stuttgart, Germany.
Gerda studied sculpture at art schools. She attended schools in Stuttgart, Darmstadt, and Munich. She studied art from 1948 to 1952.
While studying in Munich, Gerda met Werner Schürmann. They got married in 1955. In 1956, they moved to Ireland. Werner was offered a job teaching metalwork. He taught at the National College of Art and Design.
The couple lived in Woodtown Park, near Rathfarnham. Werner started a metal workshop there. They had four sons.
Her Art Shows and Awards
Gerda began to show her artwork in Ireland. She created many pieces for different clients. One famous sculpture is called Sails. She made it for P.J. Carroll and Son in Dundalk. This was the biggest private sculpture project in Ireland at that time.
Gerda also designed stained glass windows. She made them for churches in Ireland and Germany. One example is a stained glass window at St Brigid's Cathedral in Kildare.
Starting in 1957, she showed her art every year. She exhibited at the Irish Exhibition of Living Art (IELA). She also showed her work at the Independent Artists Exhibition in 1962 and 1963. Gerda had solo art shows at The Dawson Gallery in 1964 and 1970. She also had a joint show there with Michael Scott in 1967.
Gerda Frömel's art was highly praised by critics. She won a sculpture scholarship from the Arts Council in 1962. She also received a sculpture prize at the Irish Church Art Exhibition. The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland gave her an award too. In 1970, she won the Waterford Glass Company Award. This was at the Oireachtas Art Exhibition. In 1973, she earned a gold medal Oireachtas award for her sculptures.
Her Death and Lasting Impact
Gerda Frömel died on August 3, 1975. She was 44 years old. After her death, special art shows were held to honor her work.
- The IELA held a special display and tribute in 1975.
- A larger show was held at the Municipal Gallery the next year.
- In 2015, another show took place at the FE McWilliam Gallery in Banbridge.
Her sculptures are now part of many public art collections. These include the Irish Museum of Modern Art. Her art is also in the Carroll's Collection and the Bank of Ireland. Her work has been shown in important exhibitions like ‘The Moderns’ (2010–2011). This shows that her art is still seen as a key part of modern Irish and international art.
