Summary

Anthony Caro (New Malden (Surrey), March 8, 1924 - London, October 23, 2013) was an English sculptor.

Caro has had a major influence on the creation and development of modern abstract sculpture. His work is characterized by his recycling of metal (mainly iron and steel) mostly from the scrap yard.

After studying sculpture at the Royal Academy Schools in London, he worked as Henry Moore's assistant from 1951. His works from that period were still figurative, partly due to the fact that in the first years after World War II, the Royal Academy was decidedly oblivious to emerging abstract art.

Turning point in his career was, during his first visit to the United States (1959-1960), his encounter with American sculptor David Smith.

It was the American critic Clement Greenberg, who welcomed Caro to the United States and instigated a major change: from the traditionally working sculptor he was to the Avant Garde artist he became. It was David Smith, in turn inspired by Pablo Picasso and Julio González, who introduced Caro to the possibility of creating sculptures through the so-called collage technique: the technique of welding metal and metal parts in the forge.

For Caro, this was the moment to embrace modernity. His works were heavily influenced by Smith, but Caro guarded against imitating Smith, and he developed a style all his own. Caro encountered Smith again on his second visit to the United States, roughly from 1963 to 1965, and accepted Smith's invitation to teach at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont, to head the sculpture faculty. He worked with his students in a private studio

Caro, however, did not wish to remain in Smith's shadow and is said to have said:

Ik wilde hem verslaan.

In May 1965, the friendship between the two men ended due to the fatal car accident that befell Smith.

From 1953 to 1981, Caro taught at St. Martin's School of Art (now known as Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design) in London, and his example led to many changes in sculpture (English and international). Anthony Caro works mostly with steel, but his creations also include sculptures in bronze, silver, lead, stone, wood and paper. A separate place within his very broad, and by many artists imitated, oeuvre occupy since 1966 the so-called table sculptures: small metal collages, partly on and partly next to the table, on which the object is placed, hanging (Tablepieces).

From 1963, Caro exhibited his works in a relentless and continuing stream of exhibitions until today. One of these was the 2005 retrospective organized by Tate Modern in London on the occasion of Caro's 80th birthday. The exhibition was also shown in Valencia and Madrid (Spain), Portland

Caro died in London of a heart attack at the age of 89.

Sources

1. Anthony Caro
2. Anthony Caro
3. ^ a b c d e "Sculptor Sir Anthony Caro dies". BBC News. London, UK. 24 October 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
4. ^ a b c d e f g Lynton, Norbert (24 October 2013). "Sir Anthony Caro obituary". The Guardian. London, UK. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
5. ^ Wroe, Nicholas (12 March 2012). "Anthony Caro: a life in sculpture". The Guardian. London, UK.
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7. Lynton N., McNay M. Sir Anthony Caro obituary (англ.) — The Guardian, 2013.
8. Anthony Caro interviewed by Andrew Forge // Studio International. 1966. Vol. 171, N 873. P. 7.
9. Stefan Dürre: Seemanns Lexikon der Skulptur. E. A. Seemann, Leipzig 2007, ISBN 978-3-86502-101-4, S. 78.