about – Paul David Wright

bio

Paul David Wright lives and works in both Britain and France. He was awarded a gold medal in sculpture and drawing from the Royal College of Art, London in 1969. His work, whether in the form of painting, drawing, sculpture, installations, video, computer or live art, embodies his concept of ‘Continual Creativity’ developed through his use of constant change and maximum flexibility. Art as a means of emancipation and a way of nurturing and sensitising the individual within society has been at the heart of his concerns.
Has worked as an independent, professional artist for over forty years producing art for amongst others the Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, Christian Dior, Amnesty International, the World Peace Centre in Verdun and the City of Reims. He also had a patron for forty years which enabled him to develop his ‘Constructions from Life’ live art series. He participated in early Community Arts projects with ‘Freeform Arts Trust’ in an eighties London and has continued to contribute to community arts projects in France.
His London studio-gallery ‘Madame Lillie’, a former Corsetry shop, first opened in 1973, after undergoing a total transformation to best suit his needs as an artist. He initially used it for street art installations and performances, before it became an artistic hub for over 150 artists who were able to live, show and practise their art there at various points in their early careers. He considers the space as ‘a living sculpture’ and continues to this day to modify and improve it to provide ‘maximum flexibility’ for its users. A retrospective of some of these artists was organised in 1996 during the Stoke-Newington Arts Festival. In the noughties, the studio gallery was run by artist Charlotte Bracegirdle and later artist Chris Rawcliffe under Pro-numb until 2016.

EXHIBITIONS :
2018 Art walk outdoor ‘Installations’, Champsboultou, Boult aux Bois, France2017 ‘Works on Canvas, Paper and light’ Paintings on canvas and Paper, video projections Maison Clemangis Chalons en Champagne, France 2017 ‘Journées du Patrimoine’
Group exhibition, Paintings on canvas, La Chartreuse du Mont Dieu, France 2015 ‘We can all fly over the cuckoo’s nest’ Solo exhibition of Installations and paintings, Robert Sorbon Mediatheque, Reims University France 2014 ‘The Ambiguity of Being’ solo exhibition paintings and installations Cryptoporticus, Reims. 2013-2014 Open studio days, La Fileuse studio, Reims 2011 ‘To Seek Enchantment’ – 6 month solo exhibition
Over 300 works including paintings, installations, prints and video Episcopal palace, World Peace Centre, Verdun, France & in surrounding locations; Stenay, Etain, Montmedy & SNCF railway station Issoncourt 2009 ‘Cave Paintings for the 21st Century’ – solo exhibition Selection of paintings, drawings, assemblages & photo-installations at
Reims Management School, Reims, France 2007 EVBK painting exhibition group show, Prum Abbey, Germany 2006 ‘Entrez Voir’ open studio exhibition organised by ORCCA. Recent sculptures, paintings, & assemblages. Bayonville, Ardennes, France 2003 ‘The Four Seasons of Darkness’ recent sculptures & paintings, Chateau Chanzy, Buzancy, Ardennes, France. 2002 ‘Open studio’ recent paintings, Bayonville, Ardennes, France
2001 ‘Millenium transition’ project lasting 386 days from 21 st December1999 – 11 th January 2001. Over 2000 drawings reflecting the artist’s experience during that period. Bayonville, France 2000 ‘Time Condensing around a Black Egg’ Exhibition of recent paintings and sculptures Bayonville, Ardennes, France 2000 ‘Equal Status’ video documentary by St Jean Baptiste de la Salle BTS students, Reims, France. 1999 ‘Requiem eclipse’ installation sculpture, Bayonville Ardennes, France. 1997 Group show, Chateau d’Augeaud, Buzancy, Ardennes, France. 1996 Madame Lillie Quarter Century Show, 25 year retrospective group show, Stoke-Newington Arts Festival, London. 1988 Group show, London Festival, Alexander Palace, London. 1987 ‘Drawings for the Street’, solo exhibition, Madame Lillie Studio, London 1985 ‘A Religious Spirit in Contemporary Art’ Group Show, Westminster Cathedral, London. 1985 ‘Artists for Peace’ Group show, St James Church, Piccadilly, London 1979 ‘Sculpting for Freedom’ Amnesty International, Bristol Cathedral, Bristol. 1979 Sculpting for Freedom’ Amnesty International, Institute of Education, London 1979 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, Mansion House, London 1979 ‘Mindscapes’ solo exhibition, Morley Gallery, London.
1978 Group show, Morley Gallery, London 1976 solo exhibition, Aberyswyth Arts Centre, Aberyswyth 1974 Group show, Topham Trophy Exhibition, Goldsmiths Hall, London
1970 Group show, Manchester Art College, Manchester 1970 Group show, Space Studios St. Catherine’s Dock, London 1969 solo exhibition, Christian Dior, Conduit street, London 1969 Group show, Burley field House, High Wycombe, England

COMMISSIONS :
2019 Articulate fresco (8 x 2m) Chant des Oliviers, Cogolin, France 2018 10 large articulates (8 x 5 m, 3 x2m, etc) for mid façade of 7 Choriner Strasse, Berlin 2014 24 wood Articulates (38 m x 2m) for upper façade of 7 Choriner Strasse, Berlin 2012 ‘Packages from Baghdad’ 6m x 2m x 1m. mixed media assemblage World Peace Centre, Verdun 2011 ‘Fresco for a Dance of Life’ 33m x 2m acrylic painting World Peace Centre, Verdun 2011 ‘The deconstruction of reason’ 3,5m x 5m x 4m. mixed media assemblage SNCF railway station, Issoncourt 2011 ‘Noah’s Ark’ 3m x 0,5m x 4m, multi-media installation Etain cultural centre, France 2011 ‘Learning to Fly’ 7m x 1,5m x 1m, mixed media assemblage Stenay Tourist Office, France 2011 ‘Love bed’ 2, 2m x 1,3m x 2m. mixed media assemblage Montmedy fortress, France 2009 ‘Censored’ 1m x 1m x 1,5m. mixed media assemblage Reims Management School, Reims 2006-8 ‘Babel fields’ Multi-media assemblages John Taylor, Clifton Grange, England. 2001 ‘Gaza Strip’AREL, Revin, Ardennes. Street Installations.26 m long multi-media sculpture. ‘Contrebande’ Franco- Belgium Arts Festival. 1999 ‘Tower of Babel’ installation sculpture, 12 metres high. Bayonville Ardennes, France. 1997 ‘Les Nutons’AREL, Revin, Ardennes. Street Installations 5m high multi-media sculpture. Franco- Belgium Arts Festival 1995 Robin Harries, Air Artists Ltd. Polystyrene master sculptures for Bon Jovi world tour. 1994 Fisher/ Parks Ltd. Polystyrene master sculptures for ‘Voodou Lounge’, Rolling Stones world tour.5 1993 Robin Harries, Air Artists Ltd. Sculptures for ‘Dial M for Midnight’ Ben Elton chat show ( channel 4 TV) London. 1993 Robin Harries, Air Artists Ltd. Polystyrene for Lord Mayor’s show, London. 1992 Robin Harries, Air Artists Ltd. King mermaid sculpture (1.5 m high), Eurodisney, Paris opening ceremony. 1990 Robin Harries, Air Artists Ltd. Master sculptures for ‘China Dolls’ concert, Hong Kong (1m high) 1990 Fisher/ Parks Ltd. Sculptures of Pig and Schoolteacher for Roger Water’s – Pink Floyd ‘The Wall’ concert, Berlin. 1990 Fisher/ Parks Ltd. Sculptures for Rolling Stones ‘Urban Jungle’ European tour ( 2m high) 1987 Freeform Arts Trust. ‘Maggot bee as maggot mite’ stone cast play sculpture ( 10 m2) for Berger School, Hackney, London. 1987 Freeform Arts Trust. ‘To seek enchantment’ exploratory sculpture covering 600m2, cast stone, ceramics tiles, ground mosaics, landscaped garden. Berger School, Hackney, London. 1984 Roger Waters Music Ltd. Suspended rubber head ( 2m x 1.5 m) for Roger Waters touring concert ‘The pros and cons of hitch-hiking’ 1984 Keep on Truking Ltd. Fibreglass portrait sculpture (2m high) for Murrayhead ‘low Gravity’ European tour 1984 Mary Rose Trust, Portsmouth Museum. Lead canon casts 1984 Medi-cine Prod. Ltd. Paintings for film produced by R.James. 1982 Fisher/ Parks Ltd. Fibreglass sculpture for Murrayhead European Tour 1982 Mark Fisher/ J. Smitten. Fibreglass stage relief ( 15 m long ) for Peter Gabriel European tour. 1981 Britannia Row Ltd. Resin, plaster and polystyrene puppet sculptures of Gerard Scarfe’s ‘Schoolteacher’ for Pink Floyd film ‘The Wall’ directed by Alan Parker 1980 Fashion Promotions Ltd. Fibreglass sculpture 1980 Mr John Taylor. Fibreglass sculpture 1980 Fisher/ Parks Ltd. Flags, Jean Michel Jarre China concert tour. 1977 Cylinder gallery, Great Russell Street, London. Steel, hanging sculpture 1976 Mr John Taylor, The Grange, Clifton. Bronze portrait sculpture 1976 Mr John Taylor, The Grange, Clifton. Pastel drawing 1974 Mr John Taylor, The Grange, Clifton. Silver sculpture 1973 Mr John Taylor, The Grange, Clifton. Stainless steel & bronze fountain sculpture 1970 Mrs C. Moon, London. Steel sculptures 1970 Andrew Grima Ltd, Jermyn Street, London. Environmental steel sculpture 1969 Christian Dior, London. Steel sculptures 1969 C. Masters films Ltd, London. Clay/ plaster sculptures for film ‘The Last Valley’1968 Arts Council England. Steel sculpture

EDUCATION / AWARDS :
1966-1969 M.A Sculpture, RCA /Royal College of Art, London (Awarded Gold Medal for work of outstanding distinction in drawing and sculpture)
1966 Offered Sainsbury award & Rome Scholarship, both declined in order to go to the RCA
1961 – 1966 B.A in Art, Design & Sculpture, Hornsey College of Art, London – (first class honours)

TEACHING & LECTURING EXPERIENCE :
2011 Sculpture Workshop World Peace Center, Verdun 2006 Sculpture workshop, Artist’s studio, Bayonville, France. 2006 Lycee Paul Verlaine Rethel sculpture workshop.
2003 School sculpture project College de Buzancy, Buzancy, France Organised and ran sculpture workshop for teenagers. 2001School sculpture project
Ecole de Bayonville, Bayonville, France Worked with children on recycling materials to produce assemblage maquettes for various school projects. 1996 School Playground sculpture project (Two months), Ecole Verrier, Reims designed and ran sculpture project for primary school children. (project funded by the DRAC) 1994 – 96 Learning for Fun association, Reims Organised and ran ‘introduction to sculpture’ courses for children. 1986-1987 Sculptor in Residence Berger primary school, Hackney, London.
Art in Education project ( funded by Inner London Education Authority) Designed and built sculpture exploratory over acre of land in school grounds. Created sculpture workshops associated to project. 1981 Edinburgh Printing Workshop Guest speaker on colour printing techniques using colour copy machines with reference to personal works. Introduced specialist audience to creative techniques with photocopiers.
1980 North London Polytechnic Environmental Design Department Guest speaker on sculpture and design 1976-1980 Morley College Westminster Bridge road. S.E.1 Part-time lecturer in sculpture 1975-1976 Visual Arts Department University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. Lecturer in sculpture Undergraduate and postgraduate students
1974 Shoreditch Comprehensive School, Shoreditch, London Supply teacher: taught crafts directed towards sculpture 1973 Sir Richard of Chicester, Boys secondary school, Kentish town, London. Supply teacher: taught crafts directed towards sculpture1971-1972 Manchester College of Art Part-time lecturer in sculpture Diploma Art & Design & Postgraduate students 1970-1972 Falmouth College of Art Part-time lecturer in sculpture Diploma Art & Design students 1969 Maidstone college of ArtVisiting lecturer – painting 1969 Chelsea College of Art Visiting lecturer in environmental design.

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