Glenys Barton

Who is Glenys Barton?

Glenys Barton is a sculptor working mainly in ceramic and bronze. She was born in Stoke-on-Trent in 1944 and now lives in and works in Essex, UK She studied at the Royal College of Art from 1968-1971, where Eduardo Paolozzi was her tutor.

Barton's ceramic work of the 70s focused on precise geometrical forms. She was the British prize winner at the International Ceramics Exhibition in 1972 and was invited to serve on the newly formed Crafts Advisory Committee, as its youngest member from 1974-76.

Angela Flowers offered Barton her first solo exhibition in London and Barton has presented regular solo exhibitions with them since 1974.

Two early works are included in the Ceramics Galleries at the Victoria and Albert Museum. These works illustrate her early concern for precision and interest in the use of industrial processes of ceramic production. She has collaborated with Wedgwood. As artist-in-residence 1976 - 78 she worked with the Wedgwood Factory, Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent to produce 26 sculptures.

Since the 1980s her work has centred on the human form, the head in particular. In 1993 her work of Jean Muir was shown in the 'Portrait Now' exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery London and was used as the lead publicity image for the exhibition. The NPG subsequently added a Jean Muir figure to their collection and commissioned a sculpture of Glenda Jackson. Barton's Helena Kennedy and a head of Jean Muir are in the collection of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.