Robyn Denny facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robyn Denny
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| Born | 3 October 1930 Abinger, Surrey, England, UK
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| Died | 20 May 2014 (aged 83) Cahors, France
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| Nationality | British |
| Education | Royal College of Art |
| Known for | Painting |
| Movement | Abstract Art |
| Spouse(s) | Anna Teasdale (1953–1975; divorced) Marjorie Abela (1995–2014); 3 children |
Robyn Denny (born October 3, 1930, died May 20, 2014) was a British artist. He was part of a group of young artists who changed British art in the late 1950s. They moved away from traditional landscape painting. Instead, they were inspired by things like American movies, popular culture, and city life. They believed that abstract painting was the best way to express themselves. Abstract art uses shapes, colors, and lines instead of showing real objects.
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Early Life and Education
Robyn Denny was born in Abinger, Surrey, England. His father was a clergyman. Robyn went to Clayesmore School in Dorset. After serving in the Royal Navy, he studied art. He attended St Martin's School of Art from 1951 to 1954. Then, he went to the Royal College of Art from 1954 to 1957.
Artistic Journey and Style
After finishing his studies in 1957, Robyn Denny received a scholarship. This allowed him to study art in Italy. He also taught art part-time at several schools. These included Hammersmith School of Art and the Slade School of Art.
When he was at the Royal College, Denny created early paintings. Some showed simple images of heads. These used paint that was dripped and dribbled. He also made abstract collages. He created large paintings with bold, sweeping marks. These showed the influence of American Abstract Expressionism. His work started to use more intense colors. He moved from dark, rich colors to bright, high-contrast ones.
In 1981, Denny moved to Los Angeles, California. His painting style changed a lot there. He created large, single-color paintings. These often had a small area of scratches. These scratches stood out against the smooth surface. He built up his acrylic paintings with many layers of paint. Sometimes he used up to 30 layers. This made the colors very rich and deep.
One of Robyn Denny's most famous public artworks is at Embankment tube station in London. In 1985, he installed colored lines there. Many people see this work every day.
Major Exhibitions
Robyn Denny's art was shown in many important exhibitions. Here are some of them:
- Place at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London (1959)
- Situation at the RBA Galleries, London (1960)
- London: the New Scene which toured North America (1965)
- The Venice Biennale (1966)
- A special show at the Tate Gallery (1973)
- The Sixties Art Scene in London at the Barbican Art Gallery, London (1993)
Family Life
Robyn Denny married Anna Teasdale in 1953. She was also an artist. They had two children, Dominic and Lucy. Their marriage ended in 1975. He later had another son, Ned. In 1995, he married Marjorie Abela. He spent his time living between London and France.
Later Years and Passing
Robyn Denny passed away on May 20, 2014. He was 83 years old. He died in France.
