Kenneth Armitage British, 1916-2002
Reach for the Stars Maquette, 2001
Bronze
235 cm high
92 1/2 in
92 1/2 in
Unique
Kenneth Armitage, like Clarke and Chadwick first came to international prominence at the 1952 British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale. Inspired by the ‘simple things’ in and around his life...
Kenneth Armitage, like Clarke and Chadwick first came to international prominence at the 1952 British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale. Inspired by the ‘simple things’ in and around his life he incorporated similar structures into figurative sculpture and his work is often imbued with a wry sense of the humour in daily life.
This unique maquette by Kenneth Armitage is a poignant and important piece, being both his final sculpture and, in its final version at 30ft tall, also his most monumental. Armitage’s later works often feature symbolic arms in gestures of reaching or welcome. ‘Reach for the Stars’ depicts both hand and star, supported on an arm that is simultaneously human and architectural. It perfectly captures Armitage’s original inspiration: “If you reach for the stars you might just reach the rooftops.”
This unique maquette by Kenneth Armitage is a poignant and important piece, being both his final sculpture and, in its final version at 30ft tall, also his most monumental. Armitage’s later works often feature symbolic arms in gestures of reaching or welcome. ‘Reach for the Stars’ depicts both hand and star, supported on an arm that is simultaneously human and architectural. It perfectly captures Armitage’s original inspiration: “If you reach for the stars you might just reach the rooftops.”
Provenance
Formed part of a commission for Parabola Estates, Newcastle for a 30ft version
of the same title.
Exhibitions
Masterpiece London 2019
Crucible, Gloucester Cathedral, September – October 2010
Kenneth Armitage Centenary Exhibition - Bath City Art Gallery, 2016
Kenneth Armitage Centenary Exhibition - Leeds City Art Gallery, 2017
Masterpiece Art fair, London 2019.
