WORK OF THE WEEK: F.E. McWilliam, Mulberry Figure Seven, 1988

F.E McWilliam
Mulberry Figure Seven, 1988
Mulberry wood
62 x 32 x 35 cm
2ft ⅜ x 1ft ⅝ x 1ft 1 ¾ in.

During a hurricane in October 1987, the large mulberry tree in F.E. McWilliam's London garden was blown down. The felling instigated an energetic return to sculpting with wood. The form of the mulberry figures was directly influenced by the shape, grain, and texture of the material, and were exhibited in his major retrospective at the Tate in 1989.

One of Northern Ireland's most influential and successful sculptors, F.E. McWilliam worked chiefly in stone, wood, and bronze. Studying first at Belfast College of Art, in 1928 McWilliam continued his education at the Slade School of Fine Art in London. Originally intending to become a painter, McWilliam was influenced by A.H. Gerrard, Head of Sculpture at the Slade, and Henry Moore, whom he met there, and turned to sculpture.

In 1966, McWilliam was awarded a CBE, and in 1989 appointed senior Royal Academician. His work is held in several major public collections including the V&A Museum, London; the Tate Collection, Great Britain; the National Portrait Gallery, London; the Royal Academy, London; the Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Contemporary Art Society, London; the Irish Museum of Modern Art; the British Museum, London; the Arts Council of Great Britain and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

In celebration of what would have been McWilliam's 115th Birthday on 30th April, a collection of his works are currently available to be seen in our Artist's House gallery.

F.E McWilliam
Legs Standing, 1978
Bronze
29 x 11 x 9 cm / 11 ½ x 4 ⅜ x 3 ½ in.
Edition 4 of 5

(left)
F.E McWilliam
Up and Up and On and On, 1975
Bronze with a gold patina
77 x 23.5 x 26.7 cm
30 ¼ x 9 ¼ x 10 ½ in.
Signed 'MCW 1/5' on base
Edition 1 of 5

(right)
F.E McWilliam
Up the Grass Roots, 1976
Bronze
32 x 30 x 15 cm
1ft ⅝ x 11 ⅞ x 5 ⅞ in.
Unique, only 1 of Edition of 5 cast