Grenville Davey facts for kids
Grenville Davey (born April 28, 1961 – died February 28, 2022) was a famous sculptor from Cornwall, England. He won the important Turner Prize in 1992.
Grenville Davey also taught art at universities. He was a visiting professor at the University of the Arts London. He also led a fine art program at the University of East London. Later, he worked as an artist-in-residence at the physics department of Queen Mary, University of London. He was also an artist-in-residence at the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences.
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About Grenville Davey
Grenville Davey was born in Launceston, Cornwall. He first studied art in Exeter. Then, in 1985, he went to Goldsmiths College in London. There, he earned a degree in fine art.
His first art show was in London in 1987. It was held at the Lisson Gallery. Grenville Davey had one child, Sennen Davey. He passed away on February 28, 2022, after being ill for a long time.
What Kind of Art Did He Make?
Davey's sculptures were inspired by other artists. These included sculptors like Tony Cragg and Richard Deacon. He often used industrial materials in his artwork. His art also showed a simple style, similar to minimalism.
Many of his sculptures looked like everyday objects. But they were made much larger. For example, one of his early works was called Button. It was a giant clothes button made from steel. It was about one and a half meters wide! Later, he made even bigger works. Gold (Table) was a table as tall as a person.
While mainly a sculptor, Davey also created prints. He made a series of 12 prints with five other artists. These included etchings and screenprints.
Special Art Projects
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine asked Davey to create a special artwork. They wanted a piece that showed the school's history. The school had links to the sea and ships. So, Davey created a huge wave-shaped wall. It was made from oak wood.
This artwork is part of the school's modern art program. The program started in 2000. The idea was to add art that fit the school's themes. It also needed to fit the building's design.
Awards and Recognition
Grenville Davey won the famous Turner Prize in 1992. This is a very important art award in Britain. His winning artwork was called HAL. It was made of two abstract steel objects. Each piece was about 244 cm (96 inches) tall and 122 cm (48 inches) wide.
