Art News

Leeds Art Gallery Acquires First Elisabeth Frink Sculpture

LEEDS.- The city of Leeds, known for its rich collection of 20th century British sculpture, has acquired its first piece by acclaimed British artist Elisabeth Frink (1930 – 1993) thanks to a major gift. The life-size plaster maquette, entitled Birdman, has been gifted to Leeds Art Gallery through membership charity the Art Fund by the Frink Estate and Beaux Arts, London. Leeds Art Gallery represents some of the greatest British sculptors of the 20th century and the addition of a significant Frink sculpture to the collection is major coup. The sculpture has been valued at £250,000. Elisabeth Frink is widely recognised as one of the UK’s most important post-war sculptors, and Birdman is a wonderful illustration of some of the artist’s key concerns. Birdman represents a half man, half bird figure. Made in plaster on a steel armature, it is 190cm tall. The male form, along with animals such as dogs, horses and birds, was a