Richard Deacon

Big Time

Richard Deacon is part of the post-war generation of British artists reacting to the now-classic works of Henry Moore, Sir Anthony Caro and Barbara Hepworth. Deacon, who calls himself a fabricator, is known for experimenting with a range of traditional and non-traditional fine art materials, from laminated wood, stainless steel, corrugated iron and polycarbonate to marble, clay, vinyl, foam and leather. Deacon embraces the material quirks of each to drive the form.

In Big Time we can trace Deacons interest in juxtapositions: flat versus round, manufactured versus hand-applied. Gravity and time are Deacons partner in this piece, the blotches of purple paint dripping from each bulbous end and meeting in the middle of the lozenge-like forms. His forms are often playful, reminiscent of real objects in the world, but through scale and material, shifting how our bodies and minds respond to them.

Richard Deacon is part of the post-war generation of British artists reacting to the now-classic works of Henry Moore, Sir Anthony Caro and Barbara Hepworth. Deacon, who calls himself a fabricator, is known for experimenting with a range of traditional and non-traditional fine art materials, from laminated wood, stainless steel, corrugated iron and polycarbonate to marble, clay, vinyl, foam and leather. Deacon embraces the material quirks of each to drive the form.

In Big Time we can trace Deacons interest in juxtapositions: flat versus round, manufactured versus hand-applied. Gravity and time are Deacons partner in this piece, the blotches of purple paint dripping from each bulbous end and meeting in the middle of the lozenge-like forms. His forms are often playful, reminiscent of real objects in the world, but through scale and material, shifting how our bodies and minds respond to them.

Richard Deacon is part of the post-war generation of British artists reacting to the now-classic works of Henry Moore, Sir Anthony Caro and Barbara Hepworth. Deacon, who calls himself a fabricator, is known for experimenting with a range of traditional and non-traditional fine art materials, from laminated wood, stainless steel, corrugated iron and polycarbonate to marble, clay, vinyl, foam and leather. Deacon embraces the material quirks of each to drive the form.

In Big Time we can trace Deacons interest in juxtapositions: flat versus round, manufactured versus hand-applied. Gravity and time are Deacons partner in this piece, the blotches of purple paint dripping from each bulbous end and meeting in the middle of the lozenge-like forms. His forms are often playful, reminiscent of real objects in the world, but through scale and material, shifting how our bodies and minds respond to them.

Richard Deacon

Richard Deacon

Big Time

Exhibition

Exhibition

Materials & Dimensions

Materials & Dimensions

Paint and lacquered stainless steel

46 x 74 x 25.5 inches

Year

Year

2016

Site

Site

668 N Van Buren Street

Credits

Credits

Courtesy of Marian Goodman Gallery, New York.

Audio Tour

Audio Tour

0:00/1:34

Yoan Capote

Nostalgia

Yoan Capote

Nostalgia

Yoan Capote

Nostalgia

Tom Friedman

Hazmat Love

Tom Friedman

Hazmat Love

Tom Friedman

Hazmat Love

Liz Glynn

Untitled (Burgher with extended arm)

Liz Glynn

Untitled (Burgher with extended arm)

Liz Glynn

Untitled (Burgher with extended arm)

thank you

To our generous sponsors, partners, collaborators, and supporters who make our work possible.

Founding & Sustaining
Sponsors

* indicates both Founding and sustaining founding sponsor

Anonymous
Donna & Donald Baumgartner*
Black Box Fund
Evan & Marion Helfaer Foundation
Susan & Mark Irgens*
Mellowes Family*
Sue & Bud Selig*
Julie & David Uihlein*
Lacey Sadoff Foundation

presenting

Collaborator

Betty Arndt
City of Milwaukee Arts Board
Good Karma Brands

leader

Anonymous
Heil Family Foundation
Godfrey & Kahn

Exhibition Partner

Visionary

George & Karen Oliver

sculpture

Wayne & Lori Morgan

Connector

BMO
Foley & Lardner
Hawks Landscaping
Open Pantry
PNC Bank
PwC
Russ Darrow Group
Town Bank
US Bank
WeycoGroup

Sculpture Milwaukee is always free and open to the public thanks to our generous supporters.

We work with trusted community partners to ensure great contemporary art is accessible to all.

Colophon

© 2025 Sculpture Milwaukee

thank you

To our generous sponsors, partners, collaborators, and supporters who make our work possible.

Founding & Sustaining
Sponsors

* indicates both Founding and sustaining founding sponsor

Anonymous
Donna & Donald Baumgartner*
Black Box Fund
Evan & Marion Helfaer Foundation
Herb Kohl Philanthropies
Herzfeld Foundation
Hoke Family Foundation
Susan & Mark Irgens*
Mandel Groups*
Mellowes Family*
Sue & Bud Selig*
Julie & David Uihlein*
Lacey Sadoff Foundation

presenting

Collaborator

Betty Arndt
City of Milwaukee Arts Board
Good Karma Brands

leader

Anonymous
Heil Family Foundation
Godfrey & Kahn

Exhibition Partner

Visionary

Evan & Marion Helfaer Foundation

sculpture

Wayne & Lori Morgan

Connector

BMO
Foley & Lardner
Hawks Landscaping
Open Pantry
PNC Bank
PwC
Russ Darrow Group
Town Bank
US Bank
WeycoGroup

Sculpture Milwaukee is always free and open to the public thanks to our generous supporters.

We work with trusted community partners to ensure great contemporary art is accessible to all.

Sign up for our newsletter

Colophon

© 2025 Sculpture Milwaukee