Although best known for his sculpture, William Turnbull was equally prolific as a painter. In our current exhibition, The Shape of Colour, two pivotal works - Blue Duct and Echo (both 1966) - demonstrate the powerful convergence of his sculptural and painterly sensibilities.
In this video, Sales Manager Thomas Graham explores how these painted steel sculptures mark a significant shift in Turnbull’s practice. Moving away from traditional materials like bronze and wood, Turnbull embraced industrial ones such as steel and fibreglass, aligning himself with the “New Generation” of British sculptors including Philip King, David Annesley and William Tucker.
Both works challenge perceptions of volume and dimensionality. Blue Duct projects a totemic presence while appearing almost flat from certain angles. Meanwhile, Echo commands attention more subtly, its quiet form occupying the heart of the gallery like a riddle in white.
This moment marks Turnbull’s move from looking back to Brancusi and Giacometti toward looking ahead - responding to the energy of his contemporaries and shaping a new language of sculpture.
