Michael Kenny RA - Old Sculpture (study) 2 (1990)

Old Sculpture (study) 2

A mixed-media study on paper by British sculptor Michael Kenny RA (1941–1999), titled Old Sculpture (Study) and dated 1990. The work explores Kenny’s enduring fascination with geometry, space, and the human form through a composition of architectural shapes, circle, plane, and angle - rendered in soft tones of rose, ochre and graphite. Subtle shading and cross-hatching give the piece a quiet, structural energy typical of his sculptural language on paper.

Presented in a simple white box frame, the drawing reflects Kenny’s meditative approach to form: part architectural study, part reflection on the balance between body and space.

Michael Kenny RA (1941–1999) was one of Britain’s foremost post-war sculptors. His work, often compared to that of Eduardo Chillida and Anthony Caro, explored the tension between volume and void, and the way abstract form can evoke the human presence. Working primarily in slate, plaster, and bronze, he developed a distinct vocabulary of geometric and architectural abstraction.

Elected a Royal Academician in 1986, Kenny also served as Head of Fine Art at Chelsea School of Art, influencing a generation of sculptors. His work is held in major public collections including Tate Britain, the Arts Council Collection, and the British Museum.

He died on 28 December 1999 and is buried in Highgate cemetery in London.