SPOTLIGHT:MATT DUKE

After finishing his degree in Salisbury, English sculptor Matt Duke has spent the last twenty years working with bronze; creating the exquisite shapes and vivid patinas that can be seen in his work today. Matt’s reputation for excellence has resulted in commissions for public works for two highly influential British institutions: John Lewis and the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

His interest in biology has inspired the forms and figures he has recreated in bronze for our collection at Urbane; the lines are clean, elegant and minimal. His enthusiasm for native British wildlife is reflected in both the subject matter he chooses, and in the execution of the work itself; each piece has been thoughtfully considered, and the shapes of their compositions are balanced and graceful, echoing the elemental beauty of the subject matter. The interest in form and movement is readily apparent; his skill in bronze casting undeniable.

The polished bronze patinas that characterise Matt’s work are exquisite. The colours are earthen, organic, adding an element of tactility to the natural shapes he casts.