NAME: Andy Griffiths

PROFILE:

I have been a self-employed sculptor for the last twenty years, exhibiting annually as well as working for other artists or teaching to make a living. Initially I worked in stone, however during a show in Swansea in 1996 a large collection of my work was destroyed or damaged and this led to me rethinking my making process. Now rather than seeing myself as a sculptor who works in stone I am a sculptor who works in any material I find exciting, this has led to me using materials such as, salt, tar, silicone sealant, steel and bronze to name a few. Recently I have started working in cast iron, building a cupolette with my students at the West Wales School of the Arts; this is an exciting new process for me and has presented new opportunities and problems unique to sand casting and iron as a sculptural material. My work ranges in scale from the very small, as in the medals for the British Art Medal Society to large-scale public commissions and all sizes in between

I grew up in North Wales studying foundation art and design at Wrexham, I started a degree course but left to pursue a career as a singer, recording nine singles and three albums between 1978 and 1983(now available as The best of the Wall, on Captain Oi Records). I returned to college to study sculpture at Central School of Art and Design, London in 1983 and graduated in 1987. I set up as a self employed sculptor and worked as a foundryman at the A&A Fine Art Foundry on a part time basis where as well as learning bronze casting I worked as personal assistant to artists such as Barry Flannagan and A R Penk. During this time I exhibited mainly in London, Alexander Palace, Royal Festival Hall, the East End Open Studios, In 1992 I had the opportunity to work in Seville, making sculpture for Expo 92, it was on returning to London six months later I decided to move back to Wales.  Since returning I have become head of sculpture at the West Wales School of the Arts and continue to make and exhibit my work. My sculpture is represented in collections in Great Britain and Europe and has recently been purchased by the Contemporary Art Society of Wales.    

CONTACT:

Agriffgriffiths@aol.com 0044 (0)1554 891525