Ron Nixon - A Large abstract painting on canvas, dated 1978.
Provenance: From a series of works originally commissioned for the
Norman Foster designed IBM Pilot Head Office in Cosham, UK IBM
Cosham was Foster’s break-through building, and established the
reputation and career of his fledgling practice. The project is
described in Foster’s collected works as ‘one of the most
influential buildings in the Foster oeuvre’ (Lambot 1991, 141). It
was published internationally, and won several awards including the
1972 Royal Institute of British Architects Award (south region) Ron
Nixon went on to work with Norman Foster on other projects such as
the Stanstead Airport Terminal where he designed carpets for the
airside floors.
Canvas stretched over a wooden framework, signed "RN 78" to the
front and “Ron Nixon 78” to the back.
The image very much of it’s age is however also very contemporary
with todays digital imagery but all done with the eye and the brush
rather than the computer, stripped of any figurative representation
Ron Nixon has used graphic shapes and vibrant colour to produce this
striking piece. Initially created in a series for a large commercial
space this would look stunning in a contemporary domestic setting.
Ron Nixon was the partner of the internationally renowned textile
artist / designer Barbara Brown who produced many designs for Heals
through the 1960’s and 70’s, the couples Edwardian house / studio in
Sth East London is featured in the 1974-75 Decorative Arts Yearbook.