Edna Mann
Edna Mann | |
|---|---|
 Edna Mann, 1963 | |
| Born | 1926 London, UK |
| Died | 1985 (aged 58–59) |
| Nationality | British |
| Known for | Painting, Writing[1] |
Edna Mann (1926 – 1985) was a British painter and co-founder of the Borough Group of artists.[2]
Mann was educated at Romford County High School for Girls and then studied art at the South-East Essex Technical College and School of Art. Here in 1942, she met the artists David Bomberg (1890–1957), who was teaching there, and Dorothy Mead.[3] Mead and Mann were initially sceptical of Bomberg's teaching style but were won over by his unconventional approach.[4] She won a scholarship to the Royal College of Art in 1945, but left after a year because of opposition to Bomberg's ideas there.[2]
Edna Mann and Dorothy Mead followed Bomberg to the City Literary Institute, where they met Cliff Holden,[3] and then the Borough Polytechnic (now London South Bank University) from 1946. She was a founding member of the Borough Group[5] a group of artists influenced by Bomberg at Borough Polytechnic, together with Cliff Holden (the first president),[6] Dorothy Mead and Peter Richmond. The Borough Group's first exhibition was held in June 1947 at the Archer Gallery Edna Mann and the Borough Group had a group show at the Everyman Cinema, in Hampstead in December 1947. The exhibition included works by Cliff Holden, Dorothy Mead, Miles Richmond, Dinora and Leslie Marr and Lilian Holt.[4] She exhibited with the group until she became pregnant, when Bomberg asked her to resign. He believed that it was impossible be a serious artist while raising young children.[2] Mann co-wrote a radio play with Frank Hitchcock, Nigel Graham and Anthony Hall that titled "The Leavers" that was performed on BBC in February 1965.[7]
Mann was part of the Harlow Arts Festival[1] and also held her first solo exhibition at the Drian Gallery in 1965.[2]
Works
- Bent Figure, Charcoal on paper (c 1949) in the collection of Borough Road Gallery[8]
- Cityscape Charcoal and chalk on paper (c 1949) in the collection of Borough Road Gallery[8]
- Exterior of Westminster Abbey Charcoal on paper (1946) in the collection of Borough Road Gallery[8]
- Interior, St Paul’s Cathedral Charcoal on paper (1946) in the collection of Borough Road Gallery[8]
- Interior St Paul’s Cathedral Charcoal and blue wash (1946) in the collection of Borough Road Gallery[8]
- Interior St Paul’s Cathedral Charcoal and yellow wash (c 1949) in the collection of Borough Road Gallery[8]
References
- ^ a b c "Short Biography: Edna Mann". Borough Road Gallery. London South Bank University. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Edna Mann (1926–1985): Biography". markbarrowfineart.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
- ^ a b "The History of the Borough Group". cliffholden.co.uk. 24 September 2005. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
- ^ a b Cork, Richard. (1987). David Bomberg. New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 259. ISBN 0-300-03827-5. OCLC 14240729.
- ^ "The Borough Group". artonlinelimited.com. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
- ^ "Cliff Holden, FCSD" (PDF). Honorary Awards 2006. London South Bank University, UK. 2006. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
- ^ "Afternoon Theatre". Radio Times. No. 2155. 25 February 1965. p. 12. ISSN 0033-8060. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f "Edna Mann - Borough Road Gallery". www1.lsbu.ac.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2019.