British sculptor William Turnbull dies at 90

The Associated Press, Saturday, November 17, 2012, 8:39am (PST)

LONDON (AP) — William Turnbull, a highly regarded British sculptor who drew inspiration from primitive forms, has died at age 90.

Erica Bolton of public relations firm Bolton & Quinn, which is promoting an upcoming show of his work, said Turnbull died Thursday. The cause of death was not announced.

Turnbull's works were frequently extremely simple shapes, suggesting masks or totem poles. He was exhibited at the prestigious Hayward, Serpentine and Tate galleries in London and the Berggruen Gallery in San Francisco.

British sculptor Anthony Gormley described Turnbull as "a radical modernist who recognizes that sculpture is of its nature archaic."

Born in Dundee, Scotland in 1922, Turner was a magazine illustrator before joining the Royal Air Force in 1942. Between 1948 and 1950 he lived in Paris, meeting artists including Fernand Leger, Alberto Giacometti and Constantine Brancusi.

He is survived by his sons Alex and Johnny.

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Online: http://williamturnbullart.com/