Wendy Taylor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wendy Taylor
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Octo, Milton Keynes
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| Education | St Martin's School of Art |
| Known for | Sculpture |
| Movement | Modernism |
Wendy Ann Taylor is a famous English artist and sculptor. She was born in Stamford, Lincolnshire, in 1945. Wendy Taylor is known for creating large sculptures that are meant to stay in one place forever. She was one of the first artists to display her art outside of galleries, placing it in public spaces for everyone to enjoy. Her sculptures often look like they are carefully balanced, even though they are very big.
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Early Life and Art Education
Wendy Taylor studied art in London at the Saint Martin's School of Art. She went there from 1963 to 1967. After her studies, she became well-known for her many sculptures. Many of her artworks can be seen in public places, especially around London.
Wendy Taylor's Art Career
Wendy Taylor's sculptures are often abstract. This means they don't look like real objects, but they explore ideas. She often thinks about balance, materials, and how things are made. Wendy believes her art helps people communicate and think.
From 1981 to 1999, Wendy Taylor was part of the Royal Fine Art Commission. This group helps make sure new buildings and public spaces look good. She also advised on design for new towns from 1986 to 1988. In 1988, a TV show called The South Bank Show featured her work. Later, in 1992, a book was written about her art by Edward Lucie-Smith.
In 1988, Wendy Taylor received a special award called Commander of the Order of the British Empire. In 1999, she helped fix up the Virginia Quay Settlers Monument in Blackwall, London. She added a special tool called a mariner's astrolabe to it. In 2005, a big show of her art, called The Seed Series, was held at the Cass Sculpture Foundation. This show then moved to Canary Wharf in London in 2009.
Three of her sculptures are so important that they are protected as Grade II listed structures. These include the Virginia Quay Settlers Monument, Timepiece in St Katharine Docks, and the Octo sculpture in Milton Keynes. The Octo is a tall, curvy stainless steel sculpture. It was one of the first public artworks in Milton Keynes.
Wendy Taylor lives and works in London today. She is also a fellow of the Royal Zoological Society.
The Timepiece Sculpture Dispute
In 2019, Wendy Taylor had a disagreement with a political group called The Time Party. This group used a picture of her sculpture, Timepiece, on their website and on their products. Wendy Taylor told The Observer newspaper that she didn't like this. She said, "It is not so much about the politics for me, it is about using Timepiece in a way I did not intend." She felt they were using her art without her permission for their own purposes.
Notable Artworks by Wendy Taylor
Wendy Taylor has created many sculptures in different places. Here are some of her well-known works:
- 1971: Triad, at Somerville College, Oxford
- 1973: Timepiece, in St Katharine Docks, London
- 1979/80: Octo, in Milton Keynes
- 1983: Gazebo, in Golders Hill Park, London
- 1994: Jester, found at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and in Purchase, USA
- 1997: Rope Circle, in Hermitage Basin, London
- 1999: Dung Beetles, at London Zoo
- 1999: Virginia Quay Settlers Monument, in London (she helped restore it)
- 2000: Tortoises with Triangle and Time, in Holland Park, London
- 2001: Voyager, in Wapping High Street
- 2003: Knowledge, at Queen Mary and Westfield College, London
Awards and Recognition
Wendy Taylor has received many awards for her artistic work:
- 1964: Walter Neurath Award
- 1965: Pratt Award
- 1966: Sainsbury Award
- 1977: ‘Duias na Riochta’ (Kingdom Prize) and a Gold Medal at the Listowel Graphics Exhibition
- 1977: Arts Council Award
- 1978: First Prize Silk-screen, Barcham Green Print Competition
- 1988: Commander of the British Empire (CBE)
- 1989: Fellow of the Zoological Society
- 1993: Fellow of Queen Mary College, University of London
- 1994: Fellow of the Royal Society of British Sculptors
- 2002: Civic Trust Partnership Award
- 2004: Building of the Year Award for Architectural Sculpture
- 2004: Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
