"Arnold Machin: A Retrospective of a Lifes Work"
2001-07-17 until 2001-08-03
Royal Academy of Arts
London, , UK

Arnold Machin is renowned for the creation of the British postage stamp portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, reputed to have been reproduced more times than any other image in history, some 150 billion copies having been printed to date.

The exhibition encompasses his lifetime work, commencing with his childhood, apprenticeship china painting at Minton age 14, student work at Stoke and Derby Art Schools, and the Royal College of Art, London. Then come the war years, as a conscientious objector in the company of other C.O.s including Michael Tippert, early release assisted by Josiah Wedgwood and a return to modelling and sculpture and the creation of many notable ceramics, now prized collectors pieces.

He was elected an associate member of the Royal Academy in 1946, appointed Master of Sculpture from 1959 to 1966 and was to become the longest serving member. The exhibition is held in the studios where he taught. From this period are examples of the terracotta figures and pencil studies that were regularly shown at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibitions.

The Exhibition includes a reconstruction of his working studio with with tools, books, reference and other influential material. Displays show a variety of sculptors and potters methods including moulding casting and bronze processes.

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