Lucy Glendinning (born 1964) is a British sculptor and installation artist based in Somerset, England. Her work explores psychological and philosophical themes through the human figure, often incorporating research from medical and neuroscientific disciplines. She engages with questions of identity, emotion, and possible futures, working across sculpture, installation, poetry, and drawing.
Work
She is known for her Feather Child series, which originates from her fascination with visions of a future society. The feathered children are embodied questions: in a world where genetics can be freely manipulated, will we resist altering our physical abilities? Will necessity or vanity prevail? Will we act collectively or as individuals? The fragility of the feathers evokes the myth of Icarus, suggesting both aspiration and hubris.Sveriges Radio. "Glendinnings sårbara Fjäderbarn sover stilla – Kulturnytt", 2012. https://www.sverigesradio.se/artikel/4949618 Svenska Dagbladet. "Fjädertäckta barn oroar och berör", 2012. https://www.svd.se/a/81b1a885-2ad6-3b53-9063-951cb45cd9df/fjadertackta-barn-oroar-och-beror Art Paris Art Fair. "Collector’s Guide", 2018. https://artparis.com Beautiful Bizarre Magazine. "Art Paris 2018 Feature", Issue 14. https://beautifulbizarre.net MutualArt. "Lucy Glendinning – Artist Profile", MutualArt.com. https://mutualart.com
Glendinning was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Sculptors in 2024.Royal Society of Sculptors. "Fellows 2024". https://sculptors.org.uk She is currently collaborating with neuroscientist Lauri Nummenmaa at the Nummenmaa Lab at The University of Turku in Turku , Finland. Their project, Anatomy of Emotions, investigates the visual language of emotions through interdisciplinary research and experimental media.Nummenmaa Lab. "Anatomy of Emotions Project". University of Turku, 2024. Lucy Glendinning. "Inside Out – Behind Skin", Project Archive. https://www.lucyglendinning.co.uk/project-pages/
She had her first solo exhibition in 1994 and has exhibited widely, including solo shows at Gallery GSA in Stockholm and Umeå Feather Child 2012, Identity of shadows 2021,Galleri GSA. "Lucy Glendinning – Exhibition 2021, Stockholm". https://gsa.se/lg_exhibition-2021-stockholm/ Dagens Nyheter. "Feststämning i konstkvarteret på Hudiksvallsgatan", 2012. https://www.dn.se/kultur-noje/konstrecensioner/feststamning-i-konstkvarteret-pa-hudiksvallsgatan/ Galerie Da-End in Paris I am not 2013 Galerie Da-End. "Lucy Glendinning – I Am Not", 2023. https://www.da-end.com/lucyglendinning-iamnot Only Human 2018 Slash Paris. "Lucy Glendinning – Only Human", Galerie Da-End, 2018. https://slash-paris.com/fr/evenements/lucy-glendinning-only-human/sous/13237Beautiful Bizarre Magazine. "Issue 018 – Artist Feature", 2018. https://beautifulbizarre.netGalerie Da-End. "Lucy Glendinning – Artist Profile". https://www.da-end.com/lucy-glendinning and Villa Tamaris Centre d’Art in France (2018). Her group exhibitions include Hybriden at Art Center De Warande (2024), with Berlinde De Bruyckere and Nick Cave ;De Warande. "HYBRIDEN – Composite creatures from fables, myths and legends", 2024. https://www.expoarchief.warande.be/20232024/hybriden De Warande. "HYBRIDS – Composite creatures from fables, myths and legends", Exhibition Catalogue, 2024. https://dewarande.be Naked – The Vulnerable Body at Museum Kranenburgh, Netherlands, with Matthew Day Jackson and Maurizio Cattelan;Museum Kranenburgh. "Nude – The Vulnerable Body", Exhibition Text, 2023. https://kranenburgh.nl 'Forever in the now' 2022 with James Capper, Laura Ford, Nigel Hall, Sean Henry, Nicola Hicks, Simon Hitchens, Kenny Hunter, David Mach, Eilis O'Connell, Richard Perry, David Worthington.Vimeo. "Forever in the Now – Exhibition Film", 2022. https://vimeo.com/696054375 Das Hubris Project at Halle 14 with Narda Alvarado, Chim↑Pom, Ursula Damm,Bjørn Melhus, and Pinar Yoldas;Halle 14. "The Hubris Project", Exhibition Archive. https://halle14.org the Borås Konstmuseum Biennale with Erwin Wurm,Elmgreen & Dragset, Xavier Veilhan, Jaume Plensa, and Tony Cragg; and my dear swan at ACC Gallery Weimar with Sam Taylor-Johnson and Peter Kees.ACC Galerie Weimar. "Mein lieber Schwan – Ausstellung", 2013. https://acc-weimar.de/ausstellungen/a/mein_lieber_schwan-423.html The Amphibian. "Issue 8 – Featured Artists", 2023. https://www.theamphibian.co.uk/issues/issue-8 Glendinning, Lucy. In *50 Women Sculptors*, Aurora Metro Books, 2020. . Collectif. *100,000 Years of Beauty*, Gallimard, 2009. .
Public Commissions
Angel Fields (2010), a garden sculpture for Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool, commissioned by BCA LandscapeThe Landscape Institute. "Angel Fields – Hope University, Liverpool". https://www.landscapeinstitute.org/case-studies/angel-fields-hope-university-liverpool/ Anne (2009), Saint Anne's Square, Belfast, commissioned by the Art and Business TrustGeograph Ireland. "'Saint Anne's' sculpture, Belfast by Lucy Glendinning". https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6489491 The Wave (2009), Saint John's Square, outside the Winter Gardens, Blackpool, supported by Blackpool Council and EU fundingArt UK. "The Wave by Lucy Glendinning". https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/the-wave-260392 Life (2007), Jennett's Park, Bracknell, for Persimmon and Redrow HomesArt UK. "Life by Lucy Glendinning". https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/life-260390 Riding a Wave (2006), Drakes Circus,Plymouth, commissioned by P&O EstatesThe Box Plymouth. "Riding a Wave – Permanent Public Art". https://www.theboxplymouth.com/outside-the-box/public-art/permanent-public-art-in-plymouth/riding-a-wave Flight (2006), Waterside Square, Portishead, Somerset, for Persimmon HomesArt UK. "Flying by Lucy Glendinning". https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/flying-260391 Discovery (2005), a memorial to Francis Crick in Northampton, commissioned by Northampton Borough Council and the Wilson FoundationBBC News. "Sculpture celebrates DNA pioneers", 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/northamptonshire/4483793.stm Memorial to John Smith (2003), Wincanton, for South Somerset District CouncilLucy Glendinning. "Commissions Archive – Memorial to John Smith". https://www.lucyglendinning.co.uk/our-commissions/ Wincanton Sports Centre (2001), Wincanton, for South Somerset District CouncilLucy Glendinning. "Commissions Archive – Wincanton Sports Centre". https://www.lucyglendinning.co.uk/our-commissions/ Wells Bridge (1999), part of the Glastonbury–Wells traffic-free route for SustransArt UK. "Flying Figures by Lucy Glendinning". https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/flying-figures-260389 Hartlepool Dockland Sea Wall (1991), commissioned as part of the Hartlepool dockland developmentLucy Glendinning. "About – Biography and Public Commissions". https://www.lucyglendinning.co.uk/about/
References