New Dorset exhibition highlights work of sculptor Elisabeth Frink
She had a studio in Woolland, before her death in 1993
The first ever exhibition dedicated to the work of sculptor Elizabeth Frink during her time in Dorset, has opened at Dorset Museum.
Frink is one of the most celebrated sculptors of recent times - the first female in her medium to be elected as a Royal Academician back in 1973.
She created the Dorset Martyrs Memorial - the three figures that you can see in South Walks in Dorchester.
Now, 30 years after her death in 1993, some of her works are on show to the public.
The exhibition includes 80 sculptures, drawings and prints, including items that have never been on public display before.
Elizabeth Selby, Director of Collections and Public Engagement at Dorset Museum, said:
“Elisabeth Frink was an extraordinary artist who explored what it meant to be human through her work. This exhibition will portray Frink in a more intimate light, revealing her inner world and the major themes she explored in her sculpture, prints and drawings. We are thrilled to be able to display more of the works we acquired from the Elisabeth Frink Estate in 2020, and explore Frink’s connections with Dorset, where she lived and worked from 1976 until her death in 1993.”
Elisabeth Frink: A View from Within is curated by Lucy Johnston, Exhibition Manager at Dorset Museum and Annette Ratuszniak, former Curator of the Elisabeth Frink Estate, with research assistance by Pippa Davies.
Executive Director of Dorset Museum, Claire Dixon, said:
“The museum was transformed by a multi-million-pound extension, but we now need to engage with enough visitors to ensure its survival, as the museum has struggled to recover from the impact of the pandemic and more recent cost of living crisis.
"Exhibitions like this form a crucial part of my vision for a sustainable future for the museum, encouraging repeat visits and providing access to exceptional collections and stories that relate to Dorset but also have wider connections that make them relevant to all.”
The displays will be open until 21st April 2024.