100 Sculptors of Tomorrow reveals the most exciting new talent working in sculpture today

We can all appreciate the neoclassical works of Canova and Thorvaldsen as well as more modern sculpture by Auguste Rodin and George Minne. But when it comes to finding the most exciting up-and-coming sculptors working today, we can turn to Kurt Beers for help.

Shane Darwent, Future Bryte (2016), Custom Fabricated Storefront Awnings and Flourescent Lighting, 370x300x430cm. All images courtesy of Thames & Hudson, Beers London and the respected artists.

Shane Darwent, Future Bryte (2016), Custom Fabricated Storefront Awnings and Flourescent Lighting, 370x300x430cm. All images courtesy of Thames & Hudson, Beers London and the respected artists.

The director of Beers London art gallery in London, Kurt is behind a new book entitled 100 Sculptors of Tomorrow, out next month. It's a culmination of a year-long search to identify the most notable sculptors working across the world today. It also questions the very nature of sculpture and what it can be.

The foreword is written by art historian and critic Richard Cork, who says, "As this book attests with such vigour the artists of today refuse to be constrained in any way by traditional approaches…Sculpture used to be considered a fundamentally ‘tough’ activity, lauding bodily perfection. But practitioners in the twenty-first century are increasingly preoccupied with vulnerability."

Featured sculptors include Chris Bogia, Shane Darwent Mark Whalen, Troika, Haroon Mirza, duo Ghost of a Dream, Zac Harmon, Michelle Segre, Alex Chinnock, Ben Long, Samara Scott, Jack Lavender, Leif Low-Beer, Rachel Ara, and more. They were chosen by a jury of professionals in the field of sculpture via open call submissions and juror recommendation.

"It is not just about creating something for a plinth, but about questioning and reshaping sculpture as a discipline, and rethinking precisely what we – as viewers – have come to expect a sculptor to make," says Kurt. "Sculpture offers us something tangible, physical and material – a way, perhaps, of figuring out how to situate ourselves in a greater context."

The 288-page hardback includes high-quality reproductions of each artist’s work, short texts including biographical information, quotations from the artists themselves plus a further listing of artists to watch, recommended reading, and individual juror picks.

100 Sculptors of Tomorrow is the second book in the series authored by Kurt Beers and published by Thames & Hudson. It will be launched on 3 September.

Nathan Mabry, Heavy Handed (2013), Weathering Steel, 210x150x120cm

Nathan Mabry, Heavy Handed (2013), Weathering Steel, 210x150x120cm

Tulio Pinto, Nadir No. 8 (2014), Steel Ladder, Glass, Rope and Stones, 204x260x80cm

Tulio Pinto, Nadir No. 8 (2014), Steel Ladder, Glass, Rope and Stones, 204x260x80cm

Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, Mud Men (2016), Earthenware, Glaze, Gold Lustre, MDF, Cardboard, Acrylic, Enamel and Parcelain, dms variable

Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, Mud Men (2016), Earthenware, Glaze, Gold Lustre, MDF, Cardboard, Acrylic, Enamel and Parcelain, dms variable

Francis Upritchard, Marianne (2016), Steel and Foil Armature, Paint, Modelling Material and Papier MAche, 50x40x35cm

Francis Upritchard, Marianne (2016), Steel and Foil Armature, Paint, Modelling Material and Papier MAche, 50x40x35cm

Jebila Okongwu, Banana Sculpture No. 17 (2013), BAnana Boxes, fishing line, foam, resin and wood, 180x184x62cm

Jebila Okongwu, Banana Sculpture No. 17 (2013), BAnana Boxes, fishing line, foam, resin and wood, 180x184x62cm

Leonardo Ulian, Atlas 02 - The Observer (2014), Copper Wire, Micro Chips and Books, 181x36x41cm

Leonardo Ulian, Atlas 02 - The Observer (2014), Copper Wire, Micro Chips and Books, 181x36x41cm

Chris Bogia, Windowsill Watcher (2018), Wood, Veneer, Yarn, Grasscloth, Paint and Lacquer, 99x58cm

Chris Bogia, Windowsill Watcher (2018), Wood, Veneer, Yarn, Grasscloth, Paint and Lacquer, 99x58cm

Caronline Achaintre, Mad Cap (2017), Hand Tufted Wool, 270x204cm

Caronline Achaintre, Mad Cap (2017), Hand Tufted Wool, 270x204cm

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