I am deeply saddened to announce the loss of one of the world's great souls and most accomplished artists. Our very own Grenville Davey. He leaves his beloved son Sennen Davey, ex-wife, lifelong friend and mother of his son, Victoria Burton-Davey, and Kathy Hartley, his love and inspiration. He was like family to us, his friendship with Magnus Hammick was one of unfailing devotion, long we will grieve him, we all loved him so very much. He lived free and happy in his isolation, spirited in his love of nature, his home and garden were his sanctuary.
His last message was to Kathy Hartley on his return from Cornwall where he'd been with Sennen on the coast, saw us in Somerset, where this photo is taken, before he died peacefully in his Essex home.
"It's so lovely to be home, my own bed, gentle rain, garden, future, will sleep well ok, and dream, I can still hear the sea."
Davey's work had a simplicity of form and an affinity with minimalism. He was an intelligent, philosophical thinker, generous in spirit.
Born in Launceston, Cornwall, UK, Davey was winner of the 1992 Turner Prize, a professor of the University of the Arts London and programme leader of the MA Fine Art at the University of East London. He loved his work and teaching others. He was affiliated with the physics department of Queen Mary, University of London, and the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences. In 2007 Davey took part in 'Turner Prize: A Retrospective, 1984-2006' at Tate Britain, alongside his contemporaries, and exhibited widely in group and solo shows at Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, Tate Modern, London, Kunsthallen Brandts Klaedefabrik, Odense, Denmark, Primo Piano, Rome, Lisson Gallery, London, Hayward Gallery, London, Württembergischer Kunstverein, Stuttgart, most recently at Close Ltd, Somerset, in 2019.
He worked on many commissions during his career including the Olympic Park and the School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in London, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Arts Council England and Linear Park, Cambridge, and more. His timeless sculptures are held in numerous private collections around the world.
"Let our hopes for peace and love prevail. We have been overwhelmed with artists and friends who mourn his loss. Grenville's passing represents a catalyst for the Frieze Generation and Young British artists movement to shout out again and reconnect. How powerful the voice of the artists is when left to communicate from the heart. Thank you to all the artists who made statements about Grenville Davey"
Freeny Yianni
Freeny Yianni, owner of CLOSE Ltd Gallery represents The Estate of Grenville Davey.
For further correspondence please contact Freeny Yianni directly at freeny@closeltd.com / (+44) 0771 210 9172
Image credit: Courtesy of CLOSE Ltd
Photographer | Cameron Vincent
