Anita Mandl

Anita was born in Prague and came to England in 1939. She trained as a zoologist at Birkbeck College, University of London (BSc Gen 1946; First Class Hon, Zool. 1947). Later she joined the Medical School of Birmingham University (1948-1965). She was awarded a PhD in 1951 and a DSc in 1960). During this period she attended evening classes in sculpture at Birmingham College of Art.

The essence of Anita's sculpture is simplicity of form. The surface of all her work is highly polished, eliminating extraneous detail and bringing out the beauty of natural materials. She produces carvings in ornamental hardwoods, alabaster, soapstone and marbles, some of which are subsequently cast in bronze. Nothing is cast unless it is carved first.

Anita's fascination of direct carving lies within the restrictions imposed by the block of stone itself. She rarely starts a carving with a preconceived notion of what it is to be; the shape and size of the block underlie the choice of subject and the design of the carving.

In 1967 she was elected Associate of the Royal West of England Academy, becoming a full member in 1978. In 1980 she was raised from Associate to Fellow of Royal Society of British Sculptors. Her work has been exhibited widely in both this country and overseas, and she has shown at the Royal Academy numerous times.

All Anita's bronzes are cast by Pangolin Editions in Gloucestershire.

Anita Mandl

Fine Artists

Furniture design

Sculptors