Biography
I am a sculptor with a special interest in mortality, anatomy and pathology who exhibits internationally in both fine art and medical / science museum contexts. My commissioned work includes commemorative and symbolic statues for public spaces, which are often highly ornamented and reflect the history of our medium. My work is included in the a number of public collections including UK Parliament ( a bronze memorial angel for to Queen Elizabeth II sited in the House of Lords ) , Science Museum London, Hunterian Museum London, Gordon Museum of Guy's Hospital London, Careggi Museum of Pathology Florence, Vrolik Museum Amsterdam and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
I studied Classics and archaeology in Oxford before training in sculpture at Central St Martins and the Royal Academy Schools in the early 90s, where I specialized in wax modeling, lost wax bronze casting and other lifelike media, learning anatomy and forensic facial reconstruction. My aim is to imbue human figures - more effigy than statue - with a convincing sense of life.
Lately I have been collaborating with museums and learning from the collections of the Vrolik Museum Amsterdam, Museo de la Specola Florence, the Gordon Museum London and Ghent University Museum, while working with historical wax anatomical models. I have studied German renaissance bronze casting techniques to extend my bronze repertoire for a number of pubkic commissions. All these approaches have the goal of an ornamental, Anatomical Expressionism , balancing art historical investigation with the imaginary and celebratory.
More at www.eleanorcrook.net