Alison Wilding

Alison Wilding, a pioneering British sculptor since the 1970s, is known for her innovative exploration of materials and audience engagement. Her sculptures challenge expectations, juxtaposing contrasting elements like containment and openness, stability and movement. Wilding fearlessly incorporates anything from rope and wood to stone and acrylic, transforming them into captivating constructions that play with texture, color, and form. Wilding's work delves into the interplay of contrasting ideas. Sculptures often conceal objects within, creating a sense of hidden depths, while others expose both internal and external elements simultaneously. These self-supporting structures explore balance and tension, appearing both stable and precariously mobile. While primarily a sculptor, drawing plays a significant role in Wilding's practice. Her abstract drawings, with occasional figurative references, echo the sculptures' exploration of form, space, and color. Wilding is deeply interested in how her sculptures interact with their environment and the viewer. Her works demand attentive exploration, inviting the audience to move around them and take in their details from different perspectives. Wilding's sculptures are featured in prestigious collections worldwide, including Tate Modern and the British Museum. She has received numerous accolades, including nominations for the Turner Prize and an appointment as a Royal Academician.