Angela Conner

Angela Conner FRBS is an English sculptor who works in London. Conner has exhibited internationally and has large scale sculptures in public and private collections around the world.

In her early life as a sculptor, Conner assisted Barbara Hepworth. Conner's kinetic sculptures are concerned with utilizing "natural elements like water, sun, gravity or wind to create mobiles that entice viewers to stop and watch their gentle movement". The movement of Conner’s sculptures entirely depend on the natural forces they react with and not electricity. "If mankind were suddenly to die out, and if as a result there were no artificial power, the sculpture would still continue its pattern of opening and revealing, then closing and embracing" -Rob Cassy garden designer describing 'Revelation'; declared one of England's best water features by Country Life magazine.

Unfortunately, claims that her sculptures would still continue to function sans human life, reality is that electricity does power her sculptures everywhere they are connected to a water utility rather than a spring or artesian well.

In her long career Conner has created many notable large scale kinetic sculptures which are entirely powered by natural forces. Conner's 129 ft water and wind sculpture 'Wave' at Park West Dublin is possibly the tallest kinetic water and wind sculpture in Europe.

Conner is also well known for her enigmatic figurative work modeled from life, which "on an intimate and personal level probe the character behind the mask". Conner has created posthumous portraits but prefers to work from life, -"working from life is a form, perhaps, of an osmosis. It has to be done by instinct; its not something you can do intellectually."Chatsworth House has a collection of 14 bronze busts located in the grounds, including portraits of Lucian Freud, The Eleventh Duke of Devonshire, Harold Macmillan, Roy Strong and John Betjeman. Conner was commissioned to sculpt from life Queen Elizabeth II by the Knights of the Garter to celebrate The Queen’s 80th birthday.

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Wikipedia