Ron Mueck Part of ARTIST ROOMS On Tour

Posted: 4th October 2016

Australian-born artist Ron Mueck is widely recognised for his striking sculptures, which replicate the human figure at greatly exaggerated or reduced scale, but always in the most painstaking detail. His incredibly life-like works have been exhibited internationally and have captivated the public wherever they have been shown. This exhibition will feature two sculptures from the ARTIST ROOMS collection: Wild Man, 2005 and Spooning Couple, 2005, enhanced by a small selection of key loans drawn from other UK collections.

Mueck began his career as a model maker and puppeteer. He worked with the creator of the Muppets, Jim Henson, on shows such as Sesame Street and films including Labyrinth. Mueck first came to critical attention when his iconic work Dead Dad was included in the Royal Academy’s 1997 Sensation exhibition, alongside works by the Young British Artists including Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin.

He exhibited his giant crouching figure Boy,1999, in the Millennium Dome in 2000 and was appointed Associate Artist at the National Gallery, London, in 2000-2.  Since then his works have been exhibited across the world. He is represented in numerous private collections throughout Europe, the UK and US and also in many public collections including Aarhus Kunstmuseum, Aarhus, Denmark.

The Ferens exhibition is being developed with help from its young volunteers, the Future Ferens, an initiative developed since 2006, aiming to encourage the involvement of 18 to 25 year olds with the gallery’s work.

ARTIST ROOMS is a collection of international modern and contemporary art owned by National Galleries of Scotland and Tate on behalf of the public, established through the generosity of Anthony d’Offay in 2008. Through ARTIST ROOMS on Tour, the collection is shared with millions of visitors to museums and galleries around the UK. Ferens Art Gallery is the Lead Associate partner in the ARTIST ROOMS on Tour network of museums and galleries, supported by Arts Council England, Art Fund and Creative Scotland.

Find out more about ARTIST ROOMS at tate, national galleries and Artist Rooms

© Ron Mueck, Wild Man, 2005

ARTIST ROOMS National Galleries of Scotland and Tate. Acquired jointly through The d’Offay Donation with assistance from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the Art Fund 2008