Cast in bronze

AGWA presents a captivating new exhibition that explores the evolution of Modernist bronze sculpture, tracing its journey from the mid-to-late nineteenth century to the mid-to-late twentieth century.

Cast in bronze draws on significant bronze works from The State Art Collection and offers a fascinating glimpse into the development of sculptural practice during a period of profound transformation in the art world.

Featuring iconic works from renowned artists like Auguste Rodin, Marino Marini and their contemporaries, the collection highlights the technical mastery and emotional depth of figurative sculpture, showcasing the enduring influence of these groundbreaking artists on the trajectory of modern art. Through this exhibition, visitors will experience the power and beauty of the human form as captured in bronze, alongside a rich historical context that underscores the pivotal role sculpture has played in shaping contemporary artistic expression.

The exhibition explores the way in which bronze became an increasingly popular medium for sculptors to use in the nineteenth century as it became more readily available and cost effective, owing to the industrial revolution. This meant that bronze became a medium in which artists could experiment and innovate, in contrast to the much more rigid output required when meeting the strict needs of commissions by the Church or the State. Many of the sculptures are of the human figure, and contemporary artists in the exhibition challenge traditional depictions of female bodies by male artists.

Cast in bronze features 36 works which examine the shift in artistic practices from the end of the nineteenth century, a turn away from the Neoclassical focus of sculpture to a more naturalistic approach focused on individualism, emotion, and textural qualities, led by such artists as Auguste Rodin.

Featured artists; James D Linton, Kathleen Shillam, Jacob Epstein, Barbara Hepworth, Lynn Chadwick, Auguste Rodin, Henri Laurens, Norma Redpath, Danila Vassilieff, Marino Marini, Hermann Hohaus, Margaret Priest, Bertram Mackennal, Arturo Martini, Godfrey Miller, Jacques Lipchitz, Alexander Archipenko, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Medardo Rosso, Ernst Barlach, Giacomo Manzu, Aristide Maillol, Ian Fairweather, Jean-Marie Valentin, William Kentridge, James W R Linton, Linda Marrinon, Inge King, Renee So.