Peter Walker (sculptor) explained

Peter Walker (born 1974, Staffordshire) is a British sculptor and artist who works in public art, monumental bronze and other materials, fine and installation art...^[1] His work consists of large-scale sculpture, commissioned and bespoke sculptural works, paintings, drawings and large-scale installations. Walker is a fellow of the Royal Society of British Artists,^[2] and a member of the Royal Society of Sculptors.^[3]

Walker has created many sculptures around the UK,^[4] as well as work for private and corporate collectors. Most is in bronze or steel. His work can be found in public^[5] and private collections internationally, including at the British embassies in Dubai and Paris,^[6] and the collections of Limburg (Germany), St Chads Cathedral (Canada), Chester Cathedral, Lichfield Cathedral, and University Church in Oxford.

Walker is also the lead artist and artistic director of Luxmuralis,^[7] creating art through son-et-lumière (large-scale projection). Luxmuralis work has been shown at the Tower of London,^[8] Westminster Abbey, Chatsworth House, Compton Verney, Bodleian Libraries Old Quad, across the UK cathedral network^[9] and the Cathedral of St Paul, Minnesota^[10]

Works

Selected sculptures

• Shirebrook Mining Memorial (2023). The Shirebrook Colliery memorial is a statue to represent the mining community and heritage of Shirebrook.
• Being Human: Connection (2022). Inspired by Michelangelo’s ‘Creation of Adam’, it consists of two giant female hands, each two metres tall.
• Saint Chad (2021) Lichfield Cathedral commissioned this new public sculpture of Lichfield’s patron saint.

Selected installations

• The Peace Doves project is a mass participation project that culminates in the creation of a large-scale hanging art installation, lit and set to music by David Harper. Participants write a message of peace on a paper dove which joins thousands that hang in the installation. Thousands of school children and members of community groups are invited to participate with the goal of also creating their own artworks at their own school and community group settings.^[11] As seen at St Albans Cathedral, Chichester Cathedral, Rochester Cathedral, Derby Cathedral, Sheffield Cathedral, Liverpool Cathedral, Lichfield Cathedral.
• Identity – We Are All Together.^[12] The work is made up of seven 25m high columns using colour, texture, form, light and sound. Each column has photographic self portraits hanging to appear symbolic of the DNA structure within all of us. This work has engaged 3,000 people, sitting for the artist in the first ever photo booth within a Cathedral and had their self portraits captured in 2022. As seen at Liverpool Cathedral.
• The Light of Hope Star is a huge illuminated five metre diameter steel piece, created to unify and represent hope. As seen at Exeter Cathedral,^[13] Winchester Cathedral and Lichfield Cathedral.
• Pity of War depicts the nameless, voiceless and forgotten individuals affected by war and conflict. The two-metre bronze sculpture will be cast at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.^[14] The Pity of War charity was set up to raise awareness of the impact of war on civilians, through the creation of this memorial and further outreach through an educational programme to raise awareness of the physical, psychological, social, educational, economic and cultural effects of war upon the civilian population. The maquette of the sculpture has been on tour around the UK, already seen by thousands at locations such as Portsmouth (Museum of the Royal Navy), English Cathedrals; Chester, Salisbury, Coventry, Oxford, Lichfield, St Albans, and venues in Hay on Wye, London, and in Limburg, Germany. The Pity of War maquette is now also permanently on display at the British embassies in Paris and Dubai, at the Basilica of St Mary in Minnesota USA, and in the UK at Chester Cathedral, University Church Oxford and Liverpool Cathedral.^[15]

Luxmuralis

Luxmuralis is a team of artists from different backgrounds and artistic disciplines – creating works across multiple media and presentation formats. Developed from the concept of son et lumière, they combine the qualities of light and sound through contemporary media and years of experience as fine artists.

Other works

• Crown and Coronation. As seen at the Tower of London and upcoming UK-wide dates and venues.
• Poppy Fields. As seen at Winchester Cathedral, Lichfield Cathedral, St Albans Cathedral, Guildford Cathedral, Christ Church Oxford.
• Space. As seen at Southwell Minster, Hull Minster, St Martins in the Field, Bristol Cathedral, Liverpool Cathedral, Worcester Cathedral, Carlisle Cathedral.
• The Light Before Christmas: The Angels are Coming! Liverpool Cathedral (2022)
• Renaissance, Canterbury Cathedral (2023) as part of Canterbury Festival
• City of Light, Carlisle Castle and Cathedral (2021)

Notes and References

1. Web site: About Peter Walker Sculptor . 2024-02-05 . en-US.
2. Web site: Peter Walker . 2024-02-05 . RBSA . en-GB.
3. Web site: [e-mail] . 2024-02-05 . sculptors.org.uk . en.
4. Web site: Walker ARBS, Peter . https://web.archive.org/web/20231001020740/https://www.thesculpturepark.com/peter-walker-arbs/ . 2023-10-01 . The Sculpture Park . en . 2024-02-05 . live .
5. Book: Noszlopy . George T. . Public sculpture of Staffordshire and the Black Country . Waterhouse . Fiona . 2005 . Liverpool University Press . 978-0-85323-999-4 . Public sculpture of Britain . Liverpool.
6. Web site: The sculpture . 2024-02-05 . Pity of War . en-GB.
7. Web site: About Luxmuralis . 2024-02-05 . en-US.
8. Web site: Historic Royal Palaces . Royal Palaces.
9. News: Youngman . Angela . The new British art renaissance is born within our Cathedrals .
10. Web site: Schedule Luxmuralis . 2024-02-05 . en-US.
11. 'Future Now' Aesthetica Art prize 2023 ed . 'Future Now' Aesthetica Art Prize 2023 ed . 23 . 268–269.
12. News: Latest Artwork by Peter Walker goes on Display in Liverpool Cathedral . Association of English Cathedrals.
13. Web site: Foster . Ella . 2023-09-18 . Sculptor's Touring Star Shines in Exeter Cathedral . 2024-02-05 . Exeter Cathedral . en-GB.
14. Web site: Byatt . Kit . 2023-11-01 . Installation work has begun . 2024-02-05 . Pity of War . en-GB.
15. Web site: Pity of War – The so often untold, and unheard, story . 2024-02-05 . Pity of War . en-GB.