Rodney Munday
I sculpt the human and animal form in an impressionist /expressionist style which aims at showing the way in which the material has been handled. I work in clay or wax for casting in bronze or resin. Most of my work is to commission, public or private, and I value the artist – client relationship for its intellectual challenge. Much of my work has to do with historical people or places, and I am interested in the research that these give rise to, which makes their creation similar to the writing of an historical novel. In recent years, where I have had the good fortune to gain an increasing number of public commissions, my respect for the commissioning process has increased. I have had to relate to and interact with not just individual but community involvement, and I have become convinced that the most valuable art is a joint creation of the artist and the society in which and for which he works. I hope to spend increasing time with such work, helping people to relate to their position in an historical continuum.
Public Commissions
2021 Project Blackjack Two metre high sculptures of John the Baptist and the Virgin Mary for niches in the tower of Cirencester church.
2017 St. Andrew the Fisherman. Life-sized sculpture linking Plymouth Minster with the city, dedicated by the Bishop of Exeter.
Commissioner: The Art Commissioning Group, St. Andrew’s Minster, Plymouth.
2016 Richard Hale. Bust of the founder of Richard Hale School, Hertford, to celebrate the schools quatercentenary in 2017.
Commissioner: The Richard Hale Association.
2015 St. Edmund of Abingdon. Recasting for Cambridge, of St. Edmund in Oxford (see below, 2006-2007).
Commisioner: St. Edmund’s College, Cambridge.
2013 – 14 The Gift. Life-sized figures celebrating organ donation, installed in Chichester and Worthing hospitals.
Commissioner: Western Sussex Hospital Trust
2013 – 14 Alfred Russel Wallace. A 2.5m tall high-relief of the renowned naturalist and co-discoverer (with Darwin) of natural selection.
Commissioner: Hertford Civic Society in conjunction with Hertford Town Council and East Herts Council), unveiled by Dr. George Beccaloni of the Natural History Museum, London.
2011 St. Edmund of Abingdon. Recasting for St. Edmund’s College, Ware, of St. Edmund in Oxford (see below, 2006-7), unveiled by the Emeritus Bishop of Leeds.
Commissioner: St. Edmund’s College, Ware.
2006 - 7 St. Edmund of Abingdon, a life-sized sculpture of the 13th century Archbishop of Canterbury, who taught in Oxford, unveiled by the Chancellor of the University, the Rt.Hon. Lord Patten.
Commissioner: St. Edmund Hall, Oxford.
Corporate Commissions
2018 Arctic Tern
Commissioner: Inchcape Shipping
2003 - 4 Europa & the Bull, half life-size, to symbolise the European interests of the
multinational pharmaceutical company Wyeth.
Commissioner: Wyeth Europa Pharmaceuticals.
Shortlistings
2009 6m high statue of St. George & the Dragon for Perth Cathedral, Australia (Shortlist of 10 selected from 94 sculptors internationally).
2005 8m x 6m Copper wall and doors for the Grand Opera House, Belfast (Shortlist of 2)
Private Commissions
Numerous worldwide.
Awards
2019 Grand Prix du Salon, 65th Salon International de Pont de Cheruy.
2017 Grand Prix de Sculpture, Arts-inter, Salon de la Ville de Lyon.
2017 Invité d'honneur, Salon International des Arts, Zillisheim (Alsace)
2010 The Mayor’s Prize, Hertford Art Society Open Exhibition.
2005 Médaille d'Or, 11th Salon D’Art du Colombier, St. Arnoult-en-Yvelines.
2006 Médaille Choix des Enfants, 12th Salon D’art du Colombier.
2007 Médaille Bronze, 13th Salon D’Art du Colombier.
2017 Médaille Choix des Enfants, 23rd Salon D’art du Colombier.
Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions:
Galerie du Lycée Gabriel Fauré, Foix, Ariege, France (2016)
St. Edmund Hall, Oxford (2009)
Galerie Art Present, Rue Quincampoix, Beaubourg, Paris (2007)
Gallery 27, Cork Street, Mayfair (2005)
Oxmarket Gallery, Chichester (2005)
Joint Exhibitions:
65th Salon International de Pont de Cheruy (2019)
67th Hertford Art Society Open Exhibition (2019)
Arts-inter Grands Prix International des Créateurs du Siecle, Lyon (2017)
Salon International des Arts, Zillisheim, Alsace (2017)
St George’s Sculpture Project Exhibition, Perth, Australia (2009)
Salon D’Art du Colombier, St. Arnoult-en-Yvelines (2005-7, 2010, 2017)
Sculpture in Paradise, Chichester Festivities (2004-5, 2010)
Limehouse Gallery, London, Summer and Winter Shows (2009-10)
Hertford Art Society Open Exhibition (2010-11)
Woburn Abbey (2010)
Encounters Exhibition, Hatfield House (2008)
CLA Game Fair, Blenheim Palace, Oxon (2008)
London International Horse Show, Olympia, London (2007)
Newnham Paddox Art Park, Warwickshire (2006)
The Chelsea Flower Show (1994-2004)
Hampton Court Flower Show (1993-2003)
Journees des Plantes , Chateau de Courson, France (1999-2000)
Gallery currently exhibiting work
Jeremy Barlow Fine Art, High Street, Holt, Norfolk.
Talks, Demonstrations, Workshops
Numerous to schools and societies. Also private sculpture and painting courses.
Publications
Sculpting St. Edmund (Quad 2019)
The Medium isn't the Message (The Jackdaw 2019)
Reconstructing Notre Dame (The Jackdaw 2019)
The Myth of the Artist (The Salisbury Review 2005).
Educational qualification
MA (Oxon) English Language & Literature