Imogen Stuart (née Werner; born 1927) is a German-Irish[1]sculptor. She is one of Ireland's best known sculptors with work in public and private collections throughout Europe and the U.S..
She was awarded the Mary McAuley medal in 2010 by President Mary McAleese, who paid tribute to her "genius", crafting "a canon of work that synthesises our complex past, present images and possible futures...as an intrinsic part of the narrative of modern Irish art, of Ireland."[2]
Born Imogen Werner in Berlin, she is the daughter of the art critic and author Bruno E. Werner [de]. She grew up in wartime Berlin, where she took up drawing and sculpting at a young age, encouraged by her father who played an important role in providing a forum for Bauhaus artists through his cultural magazine die neue linie [de], and after the war as Cultural Attache for the Federal Republic of Germany in Washington DC. Imogen knew very little about her Jewish origins until after the war.
In 1945 Stuart began studying under Otto Hitzberger, who taught her modelling, carving, and relief work using different materials. She met her future husband, the Irishman Ian Stuart, grandson of Maud Gonne – who was also studying under Hitzberger – in 1948, and in 1949 the two moved to Ireland. They married in 1951 and took up residence in Laragh Castle near Glendalough.
Stuart works in wood, bronze, stone, steel, clay and terracotta. As the most prolific sculptor for both Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland churches her works are found across the country. Her best-known sculptures include the monumental sculpture of Pope John Paul II in St. Patrick's College, Maynooth and the carved altar in the Honan Chapel in Cork. Nevertheless, her work extends well beyond the Church, including a commissioned bust of ex-President Mary Robinson which sits in Áras an Uachtaráin (the presidential residence in Dublin), the Flame Of Human Dignity at the Centre Culturel Irelandais, Paris; collections of silver, gold and bronze jewellery, drawings, monumental works in wood, stone, concrete, bronze and other media.
"Within the sharply defined limits of material, subject, space, size and money given, I learned to develop within myself a great freedom of expression. My life is full of gifts or minor miracles. I never intellectualize – the eyes and senses dictate my hands directly. Once the work has been completed a symbolism becomes so obviously and profoundly evident that I have to regard it as supernatural.” – Imogen Stuart (Notes On The Life Of A Sculptor, Milltown Studies 22 (1988) 92–94.
A book on her work and life was published in 2002 (Imogen Stuart, Four Courts Press), with an introduction by Brian Fallon and a personal tribute by Peter Harbison.
Mary Immaculate College
The Sisters of Mercy commissioned three major pieces from Stuart in 1958. Since then further pieces have been added to the College collection where 15 pieces of Imogen's artwork are on display.
Awards and Accolades
A professor of sculpture at the Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, she is also a member of Aosdána, and has received honorary doctorates from Trinity College Dublin (2002), University College Dublin (2004), NUI Maynooth (2005).
References
^Interview with Miriam O'Callaghan, Miriam Meets, RTÉ Radio 1, 20 May 2012
^Scally, Derek (4 September 2010). "President honours 'genius' of Imogen Stuart". The Irish Times. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
^Duncan, Pamela (16 September 2015). "Imogen Stuart, Edna O'Brien and William Trevor elected Saoithe". Retrieved 14 April 2020.
External links
Official website
Aosdána biographical note
Works by Imogen Stuart at Mary Immaculate College
Imogen Stuart in the Irish Arts Review
Imogen Stuart Calendar MIC 2019
St. Stephen's Church, Killiney, Co. Dublin- Imogen Stuart: Artist in Residence
Stations of the Cross, Ballintubber Abbey, Co. Mayo
Work in Carpark, Killiney, Co. Dublin
March 15, 2023
imogen, stuart, née, werner, born, 1927, german, irish, sculptor, ireland, best, known, sculptors, with, work, public, private, collections, throughout, europe, 2011bornimogen, werner1927, berlin, germanyoccupationsculptorshe, awarded, mary, mcauley, medal, 20. Imogen Stuart nee Werner born 1927 is a German Irish 1 sculptor She is one of Ireland s best known sculptors with work in public and private collections throughout Europe and the U S Imogen StuartImogen Stuart in 2011BornImogen Werner1927 age 95 96 Berlin GermanyOccupationSculptorShe was awarded the Mary McAuley medal in 2010 by President Mary McAleese who paid tribute to her genius crafting a canon of work that synthesises our complex past present images and possible futures as an intrinsic part of the narrative of modern Irish art of Ireland 2 Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 Mary Immaculate College 4 Awards and Accolades 5 References 6 External linksLife EditBorn Imogen Werner in Berlin she is the daughter of the art critic and author Bruno E Werner de She grew up in wartime Berlin where she took up drawing and sculpting at a young age encouraged by her father who played an important role in providing a forum for Bauhaus artists through his cultural magazine die neue linie de and after the war as Cultural Attache for the Federal Republic of Germany in Washington DC Imogen knew very little about her Jewish origins until after the war In 1945 Stuart began studying under Otto Hitzberger who taught her modelling carving and relief work using different materials She met her future husband the Irishman Ian Stuart grandson of Maud Gonne who was also studying under Hitzberger in 1948 and in 1949 the two moved to Ireland They married in 1951 and took up residence in Laragh Castle near Glendalough She was elected Saoi by the Aosdana in 2015 3 Works Edit The Virgin and Child 1991 on display at Christ Church Cathedral Dublin Stuart works in wood bronze stone steel clay and terracotta As the most prolific sculptor for both Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland churches her works are found across the country Her best known sculptures include the monumental sculpture of Pope John Paul II in St Patrick s College Maynooth and the carved altar in the Honan Chapel in Cork Nevertheless her work extends well beyond the Church including a commissioned bust of ex President Mary Robinson which sits in Aras an Uachtarain the presidential residence in Dublin the Flame Of Human Dignity at the Centre Culturel Irelandais Paris collections of silver gold and bronze jewellery drawings monumental works in wood stone concrete bronze and other media Altar carvings in wood Honan Chapel c 1986 Within the sharply defined limits of material subject space size and money given I learned to develop within myself a great freedom of expression My life is full of gifts or minor miracles I never intellectualize the eyes and senses dictate my hands directly Once the work has been completed a symbolism becomes so obviously and profoundly evident that I have to regard it as supernatural Imogen Stuart Notes On The Life Of A Sculptor Milltown Studies 22 1988 92 94 A book on her work and life was published in 2002 Imogen Stuart Four Courts Press with an introduction by Brian Fallon and a personal tribute by Peter Harbison Mary Immaculate College EditThe Sisters of Mercy commissioned three major pieces from Stuart in 1958 Since then further pieces have been added to the College collection where 15 pieces of Imogen s artwork are on display Awards and Accolades EditA professor of sculpture at the Royal Hibernian Academy Dublin she is also a member of Aosdana and has received honorary doctorates from Trinity College Dublin 2002 University College Dublin 2004 NUI Maynooth 2005 References Edit Interview with Miriam O Callaghan Miriam Meets RTE Radio 1 20 May 2012 Scally Derek 4 September 2010 President honours genius of Imogen Stuart The Irish Times Retrieved 1 April 2021 Duncan Pamela 16 September 2015 Imogen Stuart Edna O Brien and William Trevor elected Saoithe Retrieved 14 April 2020 External links EditOfficial website Aosdana biographical note Imogen Stuart Sculptor Four Courts Press 2002 Works by Imogen Stuart at Mary Immaculate College Imogen Stuart in the Irish Arts Review Imogen Stuart Calendar MIC 2019 St Stephen s Church Killiney Co Dublin Imogen Stuart Artist in Residence Stations of the Cross Ballintubber Abbey Co Mayo Work in Carpark Killiney Co Dublin Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Imogen Stuart amp oldid 1058378149, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
