Andy Goldsworthy is a renowned sculptor who has revolutionized the art of creating fine structures. Unlike traditional sculptors, his works appear to be natural phenomena rather than artificially crafted pieces. Using a variety of materials such as flowers, icicles, leaves, and stones, Goldsworthy’s temporary creations showcase the beauty of nature. Inspired by his family’s agricultural background, he began incorporating elements of nature into his sculptures from a young age. Over the course of four decades, Goldsworthy has exhibited his masterpieces at various art exhibitions, solidifying his reputation as a visionary artist.
Quick Facts
- British Celebrities Born In July Age: 67 Years, 67 Year Old Males
- Family: Spouse/Ex-: Judith Gregson, father: F. Allin Goldsworthy
- Sculptors
- British Men
- Height: 1.89 m
- City: Cheshire, England
- Founder/Co-Founder: modern rock balancing
- Education: Harrogate High School, University of Central Lancashire, Bradford College
- Awards:
- 1979 – North West Arts Award
- 1980 – Yorkshire Arts Award
- 1981 – Northern Arts Award
- 1982 – Northern Arts Award
- 1986 – Northern Arts Bursary
- 1987 – Scottish Arts Council Award
- 1989 – Northern Electricity Arts Award
- 2000 – Appointed officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Childhood & Early Life
Andy Goldsworthy was born on July 26, 1956 in Cheshire, England. He was raised in the town of Harrogate, Yorkshire. His father, Allan Goldsworthy, was a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Leeds. From a young age, Andy had a strong interest in agriculture and began working on farms at the age of 13. He attended Bradford College of Art for his basic education in Fine Art from 1974-1975, and then moved to Preston Polytechnic to further his education.
Career
During his time at Preston, Andy attended a presentation on “Long Art” by Professor Richard Long, which inspired him to merge elements of nature into his artwork. He moved to Morecambe Bay in Lancashire to pursue his first professional work of art. In 1978, he graduated from Preston Polytechnic with a Bachelor’s degree in arts.
After completing his studies, Andy lived in Yorkshire and Lancashire for a few years before moving to Dumfriesshire, Scotland in 1985. He later traveled to the North Pole to work on a piece of art called “Touching North.” In 1994, he created a series of arches near his home in Dumfriesshire called “Herd of Arches.” In the 1990s, he worked on a project called “Sheep Folds,” where he replicated enclosures used for protecting herds of sheep using dry stone.
Andy’s first significant project in the United States was “The Storm King Wall,” installed at the Storm King Arts Centre in New York in 1997. He also created a temporary sculpture called “Ice Snake” in Nova Scotia in 1999. In 2003, he was invited to create a memorial called the “Garden of Stones” at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York.
Major Works
One of Andy Goldsworthy’s most significant works is “The Storm King Wall,” a 2000-foot-long structure created using natural rocks and dry stones instead of traditional mortar.
Awards and Achievements
Andy Goldsworthy won the North West Arts Award in 1979 and the Yorkshire Arts Award in 1980. He received the Northern Arts Award consecutively from 1981-1982. In the late 1980s, he received the Northern Arts Bursary, Scottish Arts Council, and Northern Electricity Arts awards. In 2000, he was appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire by the British government.
Personal Life & Legacy
Andy Goldsworthy married Judith Gregson in 1982 and they had four children. They spent most of their married life in Dumfriesshire. Andy later separated from Judith and now lives with Tina Fiske, with whom he has collaborated on sculpture projects. A documentary about his life titled “Rivers and Tides” was made in 2001 and directed by Thomas Riedelsheimer.
Trivia
Andy Goldsworthy claims that farming was his inspiration for becoming a sculptor and he rarely uses artificial elements in his works.