Geoffrey Clarke 1924-2014

A sculptor and artist born in Derbyshire, Geoffrey Clarke studied at Preston School of Art and Manchester School of Art before serving with the Royal Air Force in World War II. He studied at the Royal College of Art from 1948 to 1952 and was chosen to represent the institution at the Festival of Britain in 2951. In 1952, Clarke held his first solo exhibition and was included in the British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, alongside Lynn Chadwick, Reg Butler and Kenneth Armitage.

Clarke was admired for his unique interpretation of modern sculpture in a religious setting and worked frequently on solo commissions. His works can be seen in the Cathedrals of Coventry, Chichester and Lincoln. He also worked on Time and Life Building, Mayfair in 1952 and Thorn Electric Building, St Martin's Lane in 1958.

Clarke was the first sculptor to develop free-standing aluminium sculpture casting from expanded polystyrene, with his technique documented by Shell Chemicals. He exhibited at the Fine Art Society, Ipswich Museums and Galleries, Royal Academy of Arts and British Museum. Clarke had a retrospective at The Redfern Gallery in 1965 and was made a Royal Academician in 1975. Public collections include the Arts Council of Great Britain and Tate Collection.