Biography
Sam Keil is a twenty-first century artist who somehow never left Renaissance
Florence. A protegee of the legendary Elisabeth Frink, she works primarily as a
bronze sculptor, and her multidisciplinary spirit and refined use of
highly-skilled classical techniques underly a modern emphasis that aims to bring
out the fire, vital energy and power of living bodies. The enthusiastic reception her
pieces have received in galleries and public spaces around the world bear
witness to an artistry animated by a vision of pure sublimity.
Sam does not usually work directly from life. Her startlingly original creations are not designed to dissect the body; rather, she regards sculpture as the direct expression of a thought. Her work is inspired by the study of physics, metaphysics and the ontological basis of reality, coupled with a deep appreciation and understanding of classical music.
Many of her sculptures overcome the density of bronze and achieve a state of near weightlessness; this striking effect is particularly apparent in her well-known ballet sculptures that emerged from interactions with the Adventures in Motion Pictures company during their acclaimed production of Tchaikovsky's 'Swan Lake' - a production noted for its novel use of menacing, aggressively male swans.
Sam's works are now highly sought after, and she is currently working on a variety of public commissions, primarily though not exclusively in London. Her most recent work includes a pair of bronze panels for the facade of the new Embassy Court building in Wellington Road, St. John's Wood. These huge constructions - each more than fifteen feet across - incorporate a great many balletic bronze figures in a sculptural ensemble on a background of inscribed sacred geometry. More recently, the team responsible for the redevelopment of the Elephant and Castle district in South London have commissioned Sam to sculpt a major piece for a new public square. Her giant Eagle sculpture is the striking centrepiece of the entrance hall in the newly refurbished Royal Academy of Engineering in Carlton House Terrace, and she has also been invited to exhibit her work next door at the Royal Society.
If you would like to learn more about Sam Keil or her art, or if you would like to commission a piece, please enter your details in the Contact Form so we can put you in touch with her representative in your region. She has studios in Cambridge, England and in the Tuscan Apuan Alps in Italy, where she is happy to receive visitors by appointment.
