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Discover & Research

Brâncuşi and Britain

Spring & Summer 2024

This research season encourages scholars and practising artists to reconsider Constantin Brâncuşi (1876-1957) and his impact amongst British artists, writers, and thinkers.

Black and white vintage photo showing three older men stood in a gallery. Hung on the walls behind them are lots of paintings in fancy frames. The men are dressed in suits, two wear hats, and one holds a walking stick. One is smoking a pipe, and the other two are holding cigarettes.

About this season

As the Centre Pompidou prepares for an ambitious new exhibition of work by Constantin Brâncuşi (1876-1957), the Henry Moore Foundation is hosting a series of events aimed at re-examining the artist’s relationship with Britain, as well as his ongoing influence upon contemporary sculpture.

Brâncuşi is one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century. He was born in the small village of Hobiţa, studied art in Craiova and Bucharest, before leaving his native Romania for Paris in 1904, where he joined the École des Beaux Arts. He remained in Paris, where his sculptural practice flourished and garnered vast acclaim, until his death in 1957.

This Research Season will encourage emerging and established scholars, and practising artists to reconsider Brâncuşi, his period, and his impact amongst British artists, writers, and thinkers.

We want to pose new questions of how artists working today can respond to and challenge Brâncuşi’s legacy, with the aim of revealing fresh insights into his significance within twenty-first-century popular and academic discourses.

As well as using a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches to his life and work, we will consider his exhibition history in Britain and abroad, the complicated reception of his work in Britain, and wider cross-cultural exchanges between Romania, France, and Britain.

This research season has been conceived and organised in collaboration with Dr Alexandra Parigoris (University of Leeds) and Dr Jonathan Vernon (independent).

 

The Brâncuşi and Britain Research Season has been kindly supported by the Romanian Cultural Institute.

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Who is Brâncuși?

Our research season ‘Brâncuşi and Britain’ re-examines the life and impact of Constantin Brâncuşi (1876-1957) among British artists, writers and thinkers. But who was Brâncuşi?

Join Brâncuşi expert Dr Jonathan Vernon in this film as he explores the life and art of the artist, discussing his profound impact on modern art.

Upcoming events in this season

Previous events

Curatorial discussion: Ariane Coulondre and Matthew Gale

Ariane Coulondre is curator of Centre Pompidou’s exhibition Brâncuşi: Art is Just Beginning (27 March – 1 July 2024). She is joined by Matthew Gale, curator of Tate Modern’s exhibition Constantin Brâncuşi: The Essence of Things (2004). Together they discuss their experience of curating Brâncuşi’s work, and the challenges and opportunities involved in working with the pioneering figure. Chaired by Dr Jonathan Vernon.

Modern Sculpture, Essence and Difference: Reflections on the Work of Constantin Brâncuşi

Bringing together new research and creative responses that engage with Brâncuşi’s position in twentieth-century art and culture.

Reading list

The Henry Moore Institute’s Sculpture Research Library in Leeds offers unparalleled access to material on sculpture.

Download reading list (PDF, 0.5mb)

Books available in the library

Books available in the library

Further reading

Further reading

Additional resources

Additional resources