Critical Comment

Alan Thornhill works in clay until invention begins to emerge from what he calls the ‘shelter of preconceptions’. Here is no upholstering of the void or, for that matter, any smart current formula, but genuine expression.

Oswald Blakeston, Arts Review

Inspired by the human form at work and play his work is very fine and is an intriguing combination of the sensual and the structured.

Marina Vaisey, Arts Review

Alan Thornhill’s strange organic forms are unpretentious, unbeautiful and reveal a singlemindedness, even a stubborness, which is refreshing.

Karen Usborne, Arts Review

He exhibits outstanding, massive pieces in bronze and terracotta, making an individual statement that is uninfluenced and not restricted by present-day trends in the art world. The pieces are neither ‘Objective-Figurative’ nor the opposite. Although they have their own integral reality they strive primarily to solve the problems arising from placing forms in space. It is to Thornhill’s credit that his work is free of imitation and the second-hand. One looks forward keenly to his further development.

Gideon Freud, Die Weltkunst

The essence of these sculptures is ” the spirit in the mass “. This is true of Alan Thornhill’s sculptures whether it is a portrait head he is making or one of his more improvised large figures.

Alan Bennett, Co-ordinator of Exhibitions and Design, Brunel University

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