William Mitchell encapsulates exactly what Brutalist art is all about. It is in your face, experimental in its use of new materials and with a very 'relaxed' attitude towards aesthetics. Brutalism is first and foremost associated with postwar architecture of large concrete buildings. Functionalism came first and there was often very little or no attempt to make the building look pretty. Nevertheless some form of decoration is usually present. It often looks more like an afterthought however, as if they suddenly realised that such a large concrete slab needed something.
Mitchell is known for his large-scale sculptures, often reliefs on public buildings, made of concrete or fibreglass. The freedom that these materials offered was perfect for for the brutalist artist as it allowed them to experiment with new shapes and techniques. Mitchell who lived from 1925 to 2020 was particularly innovative. Among his best know work is the frontage of the International Wool Secretariat Building in Ben Rhydding, Ilkney in Yorkshire.
Work by Mitchell can be found all across the UK. Smaller works that can be hung at home are rare. This example is a nice exception, it measures 24 by 50.5 cm. It is made of fibreglass with bronze powder mixed in to give it a metallic look and was probable made as a model for a larger work to be installed on a public building. Whether the final work was ever made or indeed still exists somewhere is not known. Alternatively it could have been created as a stand-alone piece as it is signed bottom right and was also specifically created to be hung on a wall. It probably dates from the 1960s. I love this work as on the one hand it is simply brutalism in its purest form and on the other hand it is small enough to hang at home.
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