Isaac Witkin

Isaac Witkin, internationally renowned modern sculptor, was born in born in Johannesburg, South Africa on May 10, 1936. Witkin entered St Martin’s School of Art (today a part of Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design) in London, England, in 1957. Studying under Sir Anthony Caro and alongside other luminaries in training such as Phillip King, William Tucker, David Annesley and Michael Bolus, Witkin learned and helped create a new style of sculpture that led to their being called the New Generation of sculptor’s when their innovate abstract form of modern sculpture reached and changed the art world. Witkin's work, abstract works of usually brightly colored fiberglass or wood, in particular was noted for its "witty, Pop-Art look”.

After graduating from St. Martins in 1960, Witkin apprenticed with sculpture great Henry Moore. Leaving Moore to work on his own in 1963, his work was well received in his first solo show at Rowan Gallery, London, England and in an important 1964 showsat Whitechapel Gallery also in London where Witkin and his fellow St. Martin “New Generation” sculptors made their big entry into the English art world. In 1965 his work received a first prize in the Paris Biennale.

Witkin then moved from pupil to teacher, teaching at St. Martins for two years. He then moved to the United States. At Bennington College, Bennington, Vermont, Witkin worked with a community of artists known as “the Green Mountain boys” who either taught at the school or were part of the local arts community, including notables such as painter Kenneth Noland, Helen Frankenthaler, Larry Poons, Paul Feeley and Jules Olitski and art critic Clement Greenberg.

Witkin’s works at this time were in the style of formalist abstracts, moving from the fiberglass and wood of his earlier works to heavy welded steel industrial structures with complex cubist compositions. These were well received in America, notably during a 1966 show at the Jewish Museum, New York, New York, and various other showings in that city thereafter. In 1978 Witkin moved to New Jersey, becoming associated with the Johnson Atelier, Princeton, New Jersey, where he was an artist in residence.

During this time Witkin developed the style which would form the remainder of his works. Here he discovered a process of pouring molten bronze into wet sand on the ground to create organic appearing forms. By assembling these forms he engaged in “...creating language out of the behavioural flow of metal, wresting order from chaos” as he is quoted as describing the process in his obiturary at the London Times Online website. The remainder of his works were primarily in bronze, both poured and then cast, colored by chemicals to have a variety of patinas. However some later work was done also done in stone though in the same style as the poured bronzes.

Witkin subsequently taught at the Parsons School of Design, New York, New York, and the Philadelphia College of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Burlington County Community College, Pemberton, New Jersey. He also was honored as a Member of the National Academy, New York, NY and as a Member, Royal Society of British Sculptors. During his career Witkin also received the following awards: State of New Jersey Art Achievement Award, Burlington County College Foundation; Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation Grant; New Jersey State Council on the Arts Grant and in 1981 a Guggenheim Fellowship.

Through his work Witkin became an acquaintance of fellow sculptor and patron of the arts J. Seward Johnson, Jr., of the Johnson and Johnsons. This friendship allowed Witkin to persuade Johnson to buy and transform the abandoned New Jersey Fairgrounds into what became the Grounds for Sculpture Park, a 35 acre open air display of sculptures in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. Several of Witkin’s works are among the Grounds permanent collections. Witkins work is also included in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, the Tate, London, the Centre for Modern Art, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal; Fine Arts Museum, University of Sydney, Australia; the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, DC; Laumier Sculpture Park, St. Louis, MO; Tate Gallery, London, UK; and The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel. His work is also displayed on his family’s website, www.isaacwitkin.com.

Isaac Witkin passed away April 23, 2006. He is survived by his two daughters, his sizeable body of work, and the artists it has inspired.

Sources: “Isaac Witkin Obituary”, Times Online; “Isaac Witkin”, Grounds for Sculpture Website, isaacwitkin.com

External Links

Isaacwitkin.com Artist’s Website

Isaac Witkin Obituary at The Times Online

Isaac Witkins works in the permanent collection of the Grounds for Sculpture

Isaac Witkins works in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum website

Tate, London, the National Gallery of British Art

work of Isaac Witkin at the Hayward Gallery, London, England