Donald Locke
Exhibition highlight - Donald Locke: Resistant Forms. IKON Gallery, Birmingham
Report by Joyce Thornton
An excellent, major exhibition of work by the late artist, Donald Locke (1930-2010) is currently being staged in Birmingham until the end of February, before moving to Camden Arts Centre in April 2026.
This show of Locke’s striking, dramatic work spans from the ‘60s to the 2000’s, and reveals his pioneering, experimental work in a huge variety of media. The work is uncompromising and unconventional: the weight of colonialism, oppression and confinement can be felt keenly in many of the pieces.
The weight of colonialism, oppression and confinement can be felt keenly in many of the pieces.
From his childhood in Guyana, where he developed skills in drawing and painting, he later joined the Working People’s Art Class set up by Guyanese artist Edward Burrows. Born into poverty, Burrows was known for creating his own materials from unconventional sources, and this influence can still be seen in much of Locke’s later work in the 90’s, where his use of found objects, wood, fabric, metal and even grit can be seen in his abstract assemblages.
Born into poverty, Burrows was known for creating his own materials from unconventional sources,
After graduating as a teacher in Guyana, Locke was awarded a scholarship by the British Council, enabling him to travel to the UK to study ceramics at Bath School of Art & Design. His early sculptures are truly beautiful organic forms based on the curves of seedpods and human hips. Awarded a scholarship by the Guyanese government he then completed a master’s at Edinburgh College of Art. Further awards and scholarships followed, allowing him to travel and study further afield.
His early sculptures are truly beautiful organic forms based on the curves of seedpods and human hips.
Constantly influenced by both the landscape of his surroundings, Black culture and human form, Locke’s remarkable life and hugely diverse body of work can be traced in the exhibition. From his roots amongst the plantations of Guyana, to his development in the UK, and finally to the USA where he settled for the last 20 years of his life, he continually developed his singular practice in both painting and sculpture.
Ikon Gallery
1 Oozells Square,
Brindleyplace,
Birmingham B1 2HS