Inge King

b. 1915 — 2016

Abstract steel sculptor Inge King was born in Berlin and trained at the Berlin Academy from 1937 to 1938 and later at the Royal Academy School (on a scholarship) in London in 1940 and the Glasgow School of Art (on bursary) from 1941 to 1943. King taught art in Glasgow and London from 1944 to 1949, during which time she married painter Grahame King. Since moving to Australia in 1950, King has been at the forefront of developing and diversifying non-figurative sculpture in Australia. King was part of the Centre 5 group whose mission it was to help foster greater public awareness in contemporary sculpture. King taught sculpture at RMIT University from 1976 to 1987. She has held solo exhibitions since 1940 in London, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Geelong. Retrospective exhibitions of Kings’ works were held at the Bendigo Regional Gallery in 1995 and the National Gallery of Victoria in 1992. Major commissions include monumental works at McClelland Gallery, VIC; the Arts Centre, Melbourne; the University of Melbourne; Heide Museum of Modern Art, VIC and the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. Touring exhibitions of Inge and Grahame King’s works were exhibited through McClelland Sculpture Park in 2004. King was awarded the Eltham Prize in 1965 and 1967, a British Council Travel Grant in 1969, the RAAF memorial prize in 1971 and the Mildura Sculpture Triennial Prize 1975. She was awarded an Order of Australia in 1984 and in 2008 was awarded the Visual Arts Emeritus Award by the Australian Arts Council, recognizing her pivotal role in raising the profile of modern sculpture in this country. King received a Doctorate in Literature from Deakin University in 1990 and an Honorary Doctorate in Arts from RMIT in 1997. King’s work is held by numerous collections including the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra; the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney; the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne; the Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane; Artbank, Sydney; Parliament House, Canberra and several regional and university galleries.

PAST EXHIBITIONS

2023

2017

In Blog

Jimmy Rix, Inge King and James Parrett – Finalists in Sculpture on the Farm 2023

Image above: Jimmy Rix  Tonight, it’s just the two of us  2023  corten steel  edition 1 of 3  310 x …

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Inge King and Lenton Parr – ‘Centre 5’ at McClelland Sculpture Park+Gallery

Image above: Inge King  Forward Surge, maquette (Sculpture for a city plaza)  1972  painted steel  43.5 x 158 x 114 …

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Know My Name: Australian Women Artists 1900 to Now

The work of G.W. Bot and Inge King are among 170 artists featured in the recently opened exhibition, Know My Name: …

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Orest Keywan, Michael Snape and Ayako Saito – Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival

Image above: Orest Keywan  That Line 2023  steel  168 x 271 x 190cm   Congratulations to Orest Keywan, Michael Snape and …

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Andrew Antoniou – Finalist in the Kedumba Drawing Award 2024

Image above: Andrew Antoniou Weird & Wonderful  2024 charcoal on paper 82 x 88 cm Congratulations to Andrew Antoniou who …

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Christine Wrest-Smith – finalist in the Brisbane Portrait Prize 2024

Image above: Christine Wrest-Smith Portrait of Susan Johnson oil on linen 122 x 92cm Congratulations to Christine Wrest-Smith who has been …

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Deborah Williams, Martin King and Phillip Edwards – finalists in Pro Hart Outback Art Prize

Image above: Deborah Williams The air smells different 2023 aquatint intalgio 53×39.5cm Congratulations to Deborah Williams, Martin King and Phillip …

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Jenny Rodgerson & Peter Wegner – Finalists in The Lester Prize 2024

Above image details: Jenny Rodgerson Mum’s orange cardigan  2024 oil on linen 60 x 40 cm Congratulations to Jenny Rodgerson and …

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Holly Grace & Sarah Tomasetti – Finalists in the 2024 Fleurieu Biennale Art Prize

Image above: Sarah Tomasetti From Balpatta X 2024 145 x 150 cm pigment oil and marble dust on fresco Congratulations to Holly …

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2024 Salon des Refusés at S.H. Ervin Gallery

Image above (left to right): Graeme Drendel Portrait of Rick  2024 oil on canvas 41 x 31 cm | Michelle Hiscock …

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Janet Luxton – Finalist in the Artists for Conservation International Exhibition

Image above:  Janet Luxton  Giant Australian Cuttlefish  2021  oil on canvas  120x160cm Congratulations to Janet Luxton who has had two …

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Wayne Eager – Interview in Studio National

Above image: Wayne Eager, Allegory I  2023 oil on linen 95 x 133 cm Wayne Eager was interviewed by Janet …

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Omina Art Prize Finalists – Kate Hudson, Martin King, Robin Stewart and Marina Strocchi

Image above: Marina Strocchi The vineyards of Madden’s Lane 2023 acrylic on linen 122 x 152 cm Congratulations to Kate …

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