Blog

Bob and Roberta Smith

During our recent visit to Yorkshire Sculpture Park, I photographed some of my favourite sculptures. Bob and Roberta Smith aka Patrick Brill caught my eye “All Schools Should be Art Schools.”

About Bob and Roberta Smith

Born in London in 1963, Bob and Roberta Smith is the adopted persona of the artist Patrick Brill. Brill chose the pseudonym shortly after graduating from Glodsmiths College, London in 1991, wishing to create a more egalitarian platform for art making. The name also references his sister Roberta who he collaborated with in the early years of his career.

Art

Patrick Brill, considers art to be an important element of a democratic society, economy and life, and is a long term campaigner for access to art education. His work often takes the form of painted signs and creative, provocative, protests that reflect his desire to empower spectators through participation. Campaigns include helping to keep Henry Moore sculpture “Draped Seated Woman” in the public domain and standing against the former British Education Secretary Michael Gove in the 2015 General Election, in an attempt to move the importance of the arts to the centre of the political conversation.

All Schools Should Be Art Schools

All Schools Should Be Art Schools, was created in April 2017, as part of Yorkshire sculpture Park 40th anniversary celebrations. this piece expresses Patrick Brill ongoing concern with the diminishing role of the arts in schools, since Michael Gove’s proposal removed Art from GCSE core curriculum in England.

Campaigner

Patrick Brill, continues to campaign for improved arts education, Brill, launched the Art Party in 2013 alongside Crescent Arts in Scarborough, with the aim to better advocate for the arts within Government. Brill has had numerous solo exhibitions and his work can be found in public and private collections internationally. He received an OBE for services to the arts in the New Years honours list for 2017.