Ben Nicholson

Ben Nicholson (1894-1982) was considered to be one of the greatest British artists of the twentieth century, first coming to international prominence with his famous 'white reliefs' of the 1930s. A pioneer of abstract art in Britain, he played a significant role in the European avant-garde, forming close links with Picasso, Braque, Arp, Mondrian and others. At the same time, he had a strong sense of tradition, maintaining a life-long attachment to landscape and still-life forms. His career spanned over 60 years and embraced carved reliefs, paintings, drawings and prints. This addition to the "St. Ives Artists" series provides a detailed examination of Nicholson's life and work in St. Ives, giving new insights into this important artist's evolving practice over six decades. Virginia Button is an art critic and former Turner prize curator. The previous publications include "The Turner Prize" and "Christopher Wood".