Robert Klippel

Australian Constructivist Sculptor and Teacher. born Sydney, Australia 1920 died 2001

Often described in contemporary art literature as Australia's greatest sculptor. Through out his career he produced some 1,300 pieces of sculpture and approximately 5,000 drawings.

Time Line

1920 Born Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

1939 - 1945 Served with the Royal Australian Navy. Toward the end of World War II, he was employed by the navy making models of aircraft and ships to aid the recognition of planes.

1944 - 1946 Studied under Lyndon Dadswell at East Sydney Technical College.

1947 Travelled to London. Studied at the Slade School of art. Lived and painted at The Abbey Arts Centre in New Barnet London, along with artists, Leonard French, James Gleeson, Douglas Green, Stacha Halpern, Grahame King and Inge King. Spent a year in Paris where he attended lectures by Krishnamurti. This strengthened a life-long interest in Eastern religion and philosophy—Buddhism, Hinduism, and Zen.

Returned to Sydney in 1950. His abstract sculptures were not accepted by the Sydney art community or the public. Forced to work full-time, his production dropped to a mere 18 pieces between 1950 and 1957.

Travelled to New York in 1957. Saw a major retrospective of the works of David Smith at the Museum of Modern Art and became friendly with Richard Stankiewicz. Their use of industrial materials and scrap metal influenced him.

1958 - 1962 Taught at the Minneapolis School of Art.

Returned to Sydney in 1963

1975 - 1979 Taught at Alexanderer Makie CAE

References

• Scarlett, Ken, Robert Klippel: Australia's Greatest Sculptor, SCULPTURE MAGAZINE 1633 Connecticut Ave NW 4th floor Washington DC 20009. Available online: [Robert Klippel]

• Heathcote, Christopher Dr. A Quite Revolution: the rise of Australian Art 1946 - 1968 Melbourne: The Text Publishing Company, 1995, ISBN 1 875847 10 3

• Mc Culloch, Alan and Mc Culloch, Susan, Encyclopedia of Australian Art, Published St Leonards, N.S.W. : Allen & Unwin, 1994 ISBN 978-1871569735

• Catalano, Gary, The years of hope: Australian Art and Criticism 1959 - 1968, Oxford University Press 1981

• Smith, Bernard, Australian Painting 1788 - 1970 , Oxford University Press 1971

• Sturgeon, Graeme, The Development of Australian Sculpture 1788 - 1975 Thames and Hudson 1978

• Thomas, Daniel, 'Australian Art', Art and Australia, Vol 20, No 2

• Germaine, Max, Artists and Galleries of Australia, Published by Boolarong, Brisbane 1984 ISBN 978-0908175876

• Gleeson, James, Robert Klippel - Sculptor, Bay Books 1983