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Tony Cragg

Tony Cragg is one of the world’s foremost sculptors. Constantly pushing to find new relations between people and the material world, there is no limit to the materials he might use, as there are no limits to the ideas or forms he might conceive. His early, stacked works present a taxonomical understanding of the world, and he has said that he sees manmade objects as “fossilized keys to a past time which is our present”. So too, the floor and wall arrangements of objects that he started making in the 1980s blur the line between manmade and natural landscapes: they create an outline of something familiar, where the contributing parts relate to the whole. Cragg understands sculpture as a study of how material and material forms affect and form our ideas and emotions. This is exemplified in the way in which Cragg has worked and reworked two broad bodies of work he calls Early Forms and Rational Beings. The Early Forms explore the possibilities of sculpturally reforming familiar objects such as containers into new and unfamiliar forms producing new emotional responses, relationships and meanings. Rational Beings examine the relationship between two apparently different aesthetic descriptions of the world; the rational, mathematically based formal constructions that go to build up the most complicated of organic forms that we respond to emotionally. The human figure being the prime example of something that looks ultimately organic eliciting emotional responses, while being fundamentally an extremely complicated geometric composition of molecules, cells, organs and processes. His work does not imitate nature and what we look like, rather it concerns itself with why we look like we do and why we are as we are.


Tony Cragg was born in Liverpool, UK in 1949 and has lived and worked in Wuppertal, Germany since 1977. He has a BA from Wimbledon School of Art, London, UK (1973) and an MA from the Royal College of Art, London, UK (1977). Among many major solo shows he has exhibited at Castle Howard, York, UK (2024); Kunstpalast Dusseldorf, Germany (2024); Albertina Museum, Vienna, Austria (2022); Houghton Hall, Norfolk, UK (2021); Schloss Museum Wolfenbüttel, Wolfenbüttel, Germany (2020); Istanbul Modern, Istanbul, Turkey (2018); Yorkshire Sculpture Park, UK (2017); the National Museum of Havana, Cuba (2017); MUDAM Luxembourg, Luxembourg (2017);  Ludwig Museum, Koblenz, Germany (2017); Wroclaw Contemporary Art Museum, Wroclaw, Poland (2017); The State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg, Russia (2016;  Von der Heydt Museum, Wuppertal, Germany (2016); Benaki Museum, Athens, Greece (2015); Gothenburg International Sculpture Exhibition, Gothenburg, Sweden (2015); Heydar Aliyev Centre, Baku, Azerbaijan (2014); Musée d’art modern de Saint-Étienne, Saint-Étienne, France (2014); National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, Taiwan (2013); CAFA Museum in Beijing, China (2012);  Musée du Louvre, Paris, France (2011); the Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh, UK (2011); Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas, TX, USA (2011); Skulpturenpark Waldfrieden, Wuppertal, Germany (2010); Tate Gallery, Liverpool, UK (2000); Museo Nacional Centro de Arte, Reina Sofia, Madrid, Spain (1995), Stedelijk van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, The Netherlands (1991) and Tate Gallery, London, UK (1988). He represented Britain at the 43rd Venice Biennale in 1988 and in the same year was awarded the Turner Prize at the Tate Gallery, London, UK. He has been a Professor at Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux Arts, Paris, France (1999-2009) and Professor at Kunstakademie, Dusseldorf, Germany (2009–present). He was elected a Royal Academician in 1994; received the Praemium Imperiale for Sculpture, Tokyo, Japan (2007); was Awarded the 1st Class Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2012) and was made a Knight's Bachelor in 2016.

 

Recent, current and forthcoming projects

'Tony Cragg at Castle Howard', Castle Howard, York, UK (3 May - 22 September, 2024)

'Tony Cragg: Please touch!', Kunstpalast Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany (22 February - 26 May 2024)

Masks

Tony Cragg
Masks

2021
Stone 90 x 70 x 30 cm 35 3/8 x 27 1/2 x 11 3/4 in

Untitled

Tony Cragg
Untitled

2020
Bronze 55 x 32 x 26 cm 21 5/8 x 12 1/2 x 10 1/8 in

Senders

Tony Cragg
Senders

2019
Bronze 120 x 58 x 53 cm 47 1/8 x 22 3/4 x 20 3/4 in
 

Senders

Tony Cragg
Senders

2019
Bronze 80 x 42 x 31 cm / 31 1/2 x 16 1/2 x 12 1/8 in

In Frequencies

Tony Cragg
In Frequencies

2019
Bronze 76 x 41 x 76 cm / 29 7/8 x 16 1/8 x 29 7/8 in

Pair

Tony Cragg
Pair

2018
Bronze 100 x 46 x 38 cm 39 1/4 x 18 x 14 7/8 in

Stack

Tony Cragg
Stack

2018
Wood 280 x 188 x 149 cm / 110 1/8 x 74 x 58 5/8 in

Gate

Tony Cragg
Gate

2017
Stainless steel 100 x 105 x 95 cm / 39 1/4 x 41 1/4 x 37 3/8 in

Sail

Tony Cragg
Sail

2016
Onyx 220 x 114 x 34 cm / 86 5/8 x 44 7/8 x 13 3/8 in

Hedge

Tony Cragg
Hedge

2016
Steel 103 x 100 x 60 cm / 40 1/2 x 39 3/8 x 23 5/8 in

Skull

Tony Cragg
Skull

2016
Bronze 150 x 104 x 68 cm / 59 x 41 x 26 6/8 in.

Spring

Tony Cragg
Spring

2015
Wood 280 x 245 x 74 cm / 110 1/4 x 96 1/2 x 29 1/8 in

We

Tony Cragg
We

2015
Bronze 190 x 90 x 90 cm / 74 3/4 x 35 3/8 x 35 3/8 in.

Industrial Nature

Tony Cragg
Industrial Nature

2015
Aluminium 220 x 366 x 190 cm / 86 5/8 x 144 1/8 x 74 3/4 in

Over The Earth

Tony Cragg
Over The Earth

2014
Bronze 175 x 76 x 285 cm / 69 x 30 x 112 1/4 in.

Early Form

Tony Cragg
Early Form

2014
Bronze 72 x 64 x 62 cm / 28 3/8 x 25 1/4 x 24 3/8 in

Elliptical column

Tony Cragg
Elliptical column

2013
Stainless steel 330 x 95 x 85 cm / 130 x 37 1/2 x 33 1/2 in.

After We've Gone

Tony Cragg
After We've Gone

2014
Bronze 210 x 107 x 96 cm / 82 5/8 x 42 x 37 7/8 in

Versus

Tony Cragg
Versus

2012
Bronze 150 x 160 x 55 cm 59 1/16 x 63 x 21 5/8 in.

Group

Tony Cragg
Group

2012
Bronze 120 x 112 x 90 cm 47 1/4 x 44 1/16 x 35 7/16 in.

It is, It isn’t

Tony Cragg
It is, It isn’t

2011
Cast iron 74 x 34 x 36 cm 29 1/8 X 13 3/8 x 14 3/16 in.

It is, It isn’t

Tony Cragg
It is, It isn’t

2011
Cast iron 74 x 34 x 36 cm 29 1/8 X 13 3/8 x 14 3/16 in.

Ever after

Tony Cragg
Ever after

2010
Bronze 356 x 138 x 100 cm 140 3/16 X 54 5/16 39 3/8 in.

Companions

Tony Cragg
Companions

2008
Fibreglass 278 x 205 x 294 cm 109 7/16 x 80 11/16 x 115 3/4 in.

Companions

Tony Cragg
Companions

2008
Fibreglass 278 x 205 x 294 cm 109 7/16 x 80 11/16 x 115 3/4 in.

Elbow

Tony Cragg
Elbow

2010
Wood 250 x 102 x 429 cm 98 7/16 x 40 3/16 x 168 7/8 in.

Runner

Tony Cragg
Runner

2009
Bronze 140 x 130 x 72 cm 55 1/8 x 51 3/16 x 28 3/8 in.

Hamlet

Tony Cragg
Hamlet

2009
Wood 386 x 130 x 100 cm 152 x 51 3/16 x 39 3/8 in.

Hamlet

Tony Cragg
Hamlet

2009
Wood 386 x 130 x 100 cm 152 x 51 3/16 x 39 3/8 in.

Luke

Tony Cragg
Luke

2008
Bronze 360 x 192 x 180 cm 141 3/4 x 75 9/16 x 70 7/8 in.

Wild Relatives

Tony Cragg
Wild Relatives

2006
Wood 185 x 135 x 135 cm 72 13/16 x 53 1/8 x 53 1/8 in.

Relatives

Tony Cragg
Relatives

2004
Bronze 68 x 66 x 58 cm 26 3/4 x 26 x 22 13/16 in.

On a Roll

Tony Cragg
On a Roll

2003
Bronze 152 x 95 x 95 cm 59 13/16 x 37 3/8 x 37 3/8 in.

In Mind

Tony Cragg
In Mind

2002
Bronze 105 x 80 x 57 cm 41 5/16 x 31 1/2 x 22 7/16 in.

Ferryman

Tony Cragg
Ferryman

2001
Bronze 385 x 190 x 120cm 151 9/16 x 74 13/16 x 47 1/4 in.

One way or another

Tony Cragg
One way or another

2001
Stone (Giallo Siena Chiaro, Italian marble) 260 x 70 x 70 cm 102 3/8 x 27 9/16 x 27 9/16 in.

Slice

Tony Cragg
Slice

2000
Bronze and paint 120 x 120 x 110 cm 47 1/4 x 17 1/4 x 43 5/16 in.

Rod

Tony Cragg
Rod

2000
Bronze 60 x 60 x 230 cm 23 5/8 x 23 5/8 x 90 9/16 in.

Cumulus

Tony Cragg
Cumulus

1998
Glass 113 x 76 x 48 cm 44 1/2 x 29 15/16 x 18 7/8 in.

Blood Sugar

Tony Cragg
Blood Sugar

1992-96
Glass 64 x 187 x 85 cm 25 3/16 x 73 5/8 x 33 7/16 in.

Spyrogyra

Tony Cragg
Spyrogyra

1992-95
Sandblasted glass and steel 240 x 500 x 290 cm 94 1/2 x 196 7/8 x 114 3/16 in.

Early Forms

Tony Cragg
Early Forms

1993
Bronze 75 x 110 x 225 cm 29 1/2 x 43 5/16 x 88 9/16 in.

Early Forms

Tony Cragg
Early Forms

1993
Bronze 75 x 110 x 225 cm 29 1/2 x 43 5/16 x 88 9/16 in.

Minster

Tony Cragg
Minster

1987
Rubber, stone, wood, metal Dimensions variable

Tools

Tony Cragg
Tools

1986
Sandstone 100 x 320 x 350 cm 39 3/8 x 126 x 137 13/16 in.

Welsh Landscape

Tony Cragg
Welsh Landscape

1985
Mixed media Dimensions variable

Still Life: Belongings

Tony Cragg
Still Life: Belongings

1985
Mixed media 172 x 170 x 270 cm 67 3/4 x 66 15/16 x 106 5/16 in.

Red Indian

Tony Cragg
Red Indian

1982-3
Plastic 314 x 198 cm 123 5/8 x 77 15/16 in.

Large Window

Tony Cragg
Large Window

1982
Found wood fragments 252 x 198 cm 99 3/16 x 77 15/16 in.

Leaf

Tony Cragg
Leaf

1981
Found plastic objects Installed: 170.2 x 132.1 cm Installed: 67 x 52 in.

New Stones - Newton's Tones

Tony Cragg
New Stones - Newton's Tones

1978
Plastic 330 x 235 cm 90 9/16 x 92 1/2 in.

Stack

Tony Cragg
Stack

1975
Mixed media 200 x 200 x 200 cm 78 3/4 x 78 3/4 x 78 3/4 in.

Museum Exhibitions

Exhibitions

  1. Selected Works in Seoul - past exhibition

    Selected Works in Seoul

    2 September – 10 September 2023

  2. Tony Cragg: Riot - past exhibition

    Tony Cragg: Riot

    14 March – 15 April 2023

  3. Tony Cragg: New Sculptures - past exhibition

    Tony Cragg: New Sculptures

    6 November 2021 – 15 January 2022

  4. Selected works in London - past exhibition

    Selected works in London

    8 December 2020 – 12 January 2021

  5. Tony Cragg: Stacks - past exhibition

    Tony Cragg: Stacks

    20 November 2019 – 29 February 2020

  6. Tony Cragg - past exhibition

    Tony Cragg

    1 October – 5 November 2016

  7. Tony Cragg - past exhibition

    Tony Cragg

    29 May – 18 September 2015

  8. Tony Cragg - past exhibition

    Tony Cragg

    28 November 2012 – 12 January 2013

  9. Tony Cragg - past exhibition

    Tony Cragg

    17 March – 17 April 2010

  10. Tony Cragg: Sculptures - past exhibition

    Tony Cragg: Sculptures

    17 May – 24 June 2006

  11. Tony Cragg: Sculptures - past exhibition

    Tony Cragg: Sculptures

    26 October – 21 December 2001

  12. Tony Cragg: New Works - past exhibition

    Tony Cragg: New Works

    2 December 1998 – 6 February 1999

  13. Tony Cragg - past exhibition

    Tony Cragg

    5 December 1992 – 30 January 1993

  14. Tony Cragg: New Sculpture - past exhibition

    Tony Cragg: New Sculpture

    28 June – 3 August 1991

  15. Tony Cragg - past exhibition

    Tony Cragg

    2 December 1988 – 28 January 1989

  16. Tony Cragg: Recent Works 1984-1985 - past exhibition

    Tony Cragg: Recent Works 1984-1985

    20 March – 20 April 1985

  17. Tony Cragg - past exhibition

    Tony Cragg

    2 December – 24 December 1982

  18. Tony Cragg - past exhibition

    Tony Cragg

    16 July – 9 August 1980

  19. Tony Cragg - past exhibition

    Tony Cragg

    28 February – 16 March 1979

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