Constructionism

The Constructionists were a group of abstract artists based in London in the 1950’s whose work was featured in a book by Lawrency Alloway "Nine Abstract Artists", published in 1954. They were motivated by the theories of the American artist Charles Biederman and explored the legacy of the 'Constructive art' made in the 1930’s by Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth and Naum Gabo. The artists were Terry Frost, Adrian Heath, Anthony Hill, Roger Hilton, Kenneth Martin, Mary Martin, Victor Pasmore, William Scott, and the sculptor Robert Adams. Adrian Heath, who had worked in Cornwall both before and after World War II, acted as the link with the abstract artists of St. Ives. The book was published shortly before an exhibition of the same name held at the Redfern Gallery in January 1955, with a catalogue written and designed by Anthony Hill. A reformed exhibition under the same title reappeared in 2005 at the Osborne Samuel Gallery, London. This was accompanied by a fine informative catalogue written by art historian Peter Davies. Anthony Hill insisted on using the term Constructionism for this post-war British phenomenon, but Constructivism is the more commonly employed term.