Karma exhibition traces William Turnbull's formative years
Karma is showcasing 'Origins (1946–1959)', an exhibition that examines the formative years of Scottish artist William Turnbull. Active from 1922 until 2012, Turnbull investigated fundamental shapes in both his paintings and sculptures, influenced by the search for meaning following World War II. The display highlights his experiences in Surrealist Paris and Abstract Expressionist New York, alongside his involvement in significant modern British art shows. Recurring themes in his work include the horse, standing figure, and human head. In 1956, Turnbull remarked, 'Each new excavation is another step into the future.' He was born in Dundee in 1922, leaving school at fifteen to work as an illustrator before fully committing to art.
Key facts
- Exhibition at Karma surveys William Turnbull's early career from 1946 to 1959.
- Turnbull explored transhistorical power of elemental forms in painting and sculpture.
- The period covers his time in Surrealist Paris and Abstract Expressionist New York.
- Turnbull participated in major exhibitions of modern British art during these years.
- Recurring motifs include the horse, standing figure, and human head.
- Turnbull stated in 1956: 'Each new excavation is another step into the future.'
- Born in Dundee, Scotland in 1922, he left school at fifteen.
- He began working as an illustrator after leaving school.
Entities
Artists
- William Turnbull
Institutions
- Karma
Locations
- Dundee
- Scotland
- Paris
- France
- New York
- United States