Sophie Ryder
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
Sophie Ryder (born 1963) is a British sculptor known for her large wire structures. Ryder uses many materials, such as bronze, wet plaster embedded with old machine parts, sheet metal, marble, and stained glass. Drawing, painting and printmaking have always been central to her artistic practice and are a vital creative counterpoint to her sculptural work.
Biography
Sophie Ryder was born in London, England in 1963.
She studied combined arts at the Royal Academy of Arts from 1981 to 1984 where, while obtaining her diploma in painting, she was encouraged by the director of the Royal Academy, Sir Hugh Casson, to develop her sculpture.[1]
Ryder's world is one of the mystical creatures, animals, and hybrid beings made from sawdust, wet plaster, old machine parts, and toys, weld joins and angle grinders, wire 'pancakes', torn scraps of paper, charcoal sticks and acid baths.
She developed the Lady Hare as a counterpart to Ancient Greek mythology's Minotaur. Working 'big' is a very significant feature of Ryder's work.
Works
Ryder's work is mainly focused on mythical creatures. Her most known piece is the Lady Hare, a hare with a female human body. In 1994 a sculpture of five minotaurs was banned from an exhibition at Winchester Cathedral because of the prominence of their genitalia.[2]
Influences
When asked about what influences her, Ryder replied, "I don't sit and contemplate what it is I am trying to achieve. My head is full of ideas all the time. It is part of my life. I don't plan anything, it just comes."
When asked why she portrays hares she replied, "Well, I find it difficult answering that question because I don't really know the answer. It's the same as asking me why I make sculptures, and the answer is because I feel driven to. So it's difficult to always pin down reasons. My introduction to hares was when my lurcher dog would proudly bring hares home and drop them at my feet."[3]
References
- ^ "SOPHIE RYDER". sophieryder. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ Alberge, Dalya (7 April 1994). "Cathedral ban on sculptor's 'indecent' minotaurs: Sophie Ryder's latest work has fallen foul of church censors because of its 'too prominent' genitalia". The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ "Waterhouse & Dodd". Waterhouse & Dodd. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
