F. E. McWilliam
F. E. McWilliam Belfast College of Art, Slade School of Fine Art | |
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Known for | Sculpture in stone, wood and bronze |
Movement | Surrealism |
Website | femcwilliam |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Altnagelvin_Area_Hospital%2C_Derry_-_Londonderry_-_geograph.org.uk_-_85887.jpg/220px-Altnagelvin_Area_Hospital%2C_Derry_-_Londonderry_-_geograph.org.uk_-_85887.jpg)
Frederick Edward McWilliam .
Biography
McWilliam was born in Banbridge, County Down, Ireland, the son of Dr William McWilliam, a local general practitioner.[2] Growing up in Banbridge had a great influence on his work. He made references to furniture makers such as Carson the Cooper and Proctors in his letters to his friend, Marjorie Burnett.
He attended
During the first year of the
After his return from India, he taught for a year at the Chelsea School of Art. He was then invited by A. H. Gerrard to teach sculpture at the Slade. He continued in this post until 1968.[4]
The 1950s saw him receive many commissions including the Four Seasons Group for the Festival of Britain exhibition in 1951.[2] A major commission (1957) was Princess Macha for Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry.[4]
![Sculpture: Reclining Figure](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Reclining_Figure%2C_by_Frederick_Edward_McWilliam.jpg/220px-Reclining_Figure%2C_by_Frederick_Edward_McWilliam.jpg)
During the Northern Ireland Troubles he produced a series of bronzes (1972–73) known as Women of Belfast in response to the bombing at the Abercorn Tea-Rooms[4]
In 1964 he was awarded an Honorary
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland organised a retrospective of his work in 1981 and a second retrospective was shown at the Tate Gallery in 1989 for his 80th birthday.[4]
He continued carving up to his death. He died of cancer in London on 13 May 1992.
McWilliam's style of work consists of sculptures of the human form contorted into strange positions, often described as modern and surreal.
In September 2009
See also
- List of Northern Irish artists
References
- ^ "Frederick Edward (F.E.) McWilliam". www.dib.ie. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
- ^ a b c Irish Art 1900-1950, published by Rosc in conjunction with their exhibition at the Crawford Gallery, Cork, December 1975-January 76.
- ^ Retrospective of Surreal Sculptures, Belfast Newsletter, October 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f Information brochure published by F.E.McWilliam Gallery and Studio.
- ^ Rediscovering the Surrealist Sculpture of F.E.McWilliam, Belfast Newsletter, 22 March 2013.
- ^ "Portrait gallery acquisitions". Irish Times. 12 May 1984. p. 27. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)