Michael Le Grand, Yo-yo.

Michael Le-Grand Yo-yo

MICHAEL LE GRAND (Australia, b.  ) “Blue Yo-yo” 2008 # #dimensions Acquired: 2016 #Inventory/Catalogue No. TEMP25

Biography:

Michael Le Grand is one of Australia’s best-known contemporary sculptors

From his enrolment in a Diploma of Art at the Victoria College of Arts (VCA) in 1972, Le Grand maintained a lifelong love of welded steel sculpture. In 1975 he was awarded the Visual Arts Board Travel Grant by the Australia Council enabling him to travel to London where he attended the prestigious St Martin’s School of Art, London (1976-1977);  during this time he also became involved with the British ‘sculptural revolution’ led by Anthony Caro and his student, Philip King.

In 1977 Le Grand was awarded an ANU Creative Arts Fellowship and later taught at the Australian National University from 1980 as Head of Sculpture, until he retired in 2007.

Le Grand’s exhibition history comprises both solo and group exhibitions, national and internationally.   With regard to major sculpture exhibitions within Australia he has participated in the Mildura Sculpture Triennale, the Australian Sculpture Triennale, the McClelland Sculpture Survey and Award (2003, 2007, 2010 and 2012), and Sculpture by the Sea (Bondi) since 1997, as well as Sculpture by the Sea in (Perth) and Aarhus, Denmark.

In 2010, Le Grand was awarded the Helen Lempriere Scholarship for his work “Anaconda” in the Sculpture by the Sea (Bondi).

In 2011, Canberra Museum and Art Gallery exhibited a major survey of Le Grand’s sculpture.

Artwork:

“Blue Yo-yo” is a good example of the style, technique and material employed by Michael Le-Grand in addition to his approach to the creative process. A beautifully balanced work, the combined elements of colour, shapes and combinations of “Blue Yo-yo” evoke a sense of fun.  The work was exhibited in the Sculpture by the Sea (Bondi) in 2008^.