Rick Kirby
Rick Kirby has forged a hugely successful career as a sculptor, with over 27 public commissions to date. His mainly figurative work, predominately made from small welded steel plates, vary in height from one to around ten metres high and can be found in both public and private collections across the country. In particular, permanent installations can be seen in London outside the Houses of Parliament and in Fulham Reach. Rick now only works to commission, with a lead time of up to 3 months depending on his current workload. Please contact us on info@axlearts.com if you are interested in commissioning a piece.
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Born in 1952 into a naval family in Kent, Kirby began his art education at the College of Art in Somerset, followed by a BA from Newport School of Art. After graduating he taught art for 16 years and it was during this time that his leaning towards sculpture evolved. Initially working in stone, Kirby was eventually inspired to explore steel whilst sharing a studio with a fellow artist working with metal and so began a remarkable journey for him.
Merging monumental presence with graceful watchfulness, a strong theme of guardianship runs throughout Kirby’s work with his figures often representing an archaic symbol of being and consciousness. His figures leave one with a sense of feeling safe and comfortable as they sit patiently, quietly witnessing the movement of the world around them. By comparison some of his sculptures create an air of incredible dynamic tension, as outstretched figures of great weight seem to balance effortlessly on their tiptoes. Industrial materials are translated into compositions of calm serenity with the cold physical weight of steel counterbalancing the perceived softness and warmth of human skin.
A keen interest in the relationship between art and architecture drives Kirby’s structural approach to making. He cites architect Frank Gehry as having a huge influence on his practice, referencing buildings such as The Guggenheim Museum in Bilabo, Spain, which blend form and function with elegance. His sculpture has been exhibited at the Chelsea Flower Show in particular on the award winning Breakthrough for Breast Cancer garden in 2015, and has been unveiled by royalty including our current queen.
Articles and Reviews
Showing all 15 results
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Petit Derrière
stainless steel
60 x 24 x 14cm
£2,200 -
Torso Back III
stainless steel
180 x 30 x 30cm
£3,800 -
Witness III
mild steel plates
200 x 40 x 40cm
£9,600 -
Cloud Formation V
stainless steel
165 x 126 x 52cm
£9,600 -
Cloud Formation II
mild steel
ht 165cm
£9,600 -
Face to Face
stainless steel
150 x 36 x 36cm each
£12,000 -
Balcony
stainless steel
170 x 170 x 90cm
£9,600 -
Figure with Drapes
stainless steel triangles
ht 103cm
£6,000 -
Torso
mild steel coins
ht 165cm
£3,800 -
Relic
mild steel
65 x 140 x 104cm
£9,600 -
Stack
mild steel plates
ht 240cm
Sold -
Orchestra
mild steel
190 cm x 150cm x 70cm
£18,000 -
Single Block
coppered steel
ht 22cm x 25 depth x 28cm width
£2,000 -
Royal Standard
stainless steel
height 113cm x width 250cm
poa -
Broadside
mild steel
2m x 4.6m x 1.2m
poa