Barry Flanagan

Barry Flanagan OBE RA (1941–2009) was a prominent Irish-Welsh sculptor celebrated for his whimsical and dynamic hare sculptures. Born in Prestatyn, Wales, Flanagan studied architecture at Birmingham College of Art before shifting his focus to sculpture at St Martin’s School of Art in London. His early works in the 1960s were heavily influenced by avant-garde practices and materials, including installations made from unconventional substances like sand, hessian, and rope.

In the late 1970s Flanagan began to create the hare sculptures for which he is best known. Inspired by the lively, playful nature of hares, these works became his signature style. Barry Flanagan artist sculptor is synonymous with these dynamic and expressive figures that capture the essence of movement and vitality.

Nijinski Hare, 1985, is one of Barry Flanagan’s most iconic and monumental sculptures. This work, sold at Christie’s London in 2018 for a world auction record of £1,448,750, typifies his figurative work from 1979 onwards. Regarded as Flanagan’s most recognisable motif, the hare has become synonymous with his artistic practice, as important as the reclining figure for Henry Moore or the attenuated man for Alberto Giacometti. Inspired by his memory of a hare that he recalled bounding majestically across the Sussex Downs in 1979, Flanagan began to look to a more figurative aesthetic, which moved away from his conceptual works of the 1960s.

In addition to his hares, Flanagan created a wide range of other sculptures, exploring themes of form, space, and movement. His work Thinker on a Rock (1997) is particularly noteworthy. This piece features a hare in a contemplative pose reminiscent of Auguste Rodin’s The Thinker, blending humour with a profound commentary on the nature of thought and existence. This work is a perfect example of his ability to merge classical references with contemporary wit.

Throughout his career, Flanagan’s work was exhibited widely and is held in prestigious collections around the world. Barry Flanagan artwork is celebrated for its originality, technical skill, and the artist's unique ability to infuse his sculptures with a sense of life and personality. He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1991 and became a Royal Academician in 1998, honours that reflect his significant contributions to contemporary art.