Richard Long
Richard Long is a prominent English sculptor and practitioner of Land Art. His work derives inspiration from personal experience, geographic history, and plant life. Employing natural materials—ranging from water, rocks, and mud—Long creates works that trace his physical movement through space, as seen in his seminal work A Line Made by Walking (1967). The outdoor environment shapes Long’s process, wherein he often forms circles and lines using local materials. “I like the idea that art can be made anywhere,” the artist has said. “Perhaps seen by few people, or not recognized as art when they do.” Born on June 2, 1945 in Clifton, United Kingdom, he often played in the countryside of Avon Gorge growing up. First studying at the more provincial West of England College of Art, he later attended Saint Martin’s School of Art in London, where his professors included Anthony Caro. After travelling to Europe in the late 1960s, Long’s work gained attention in the Arte Povera circles of Italy and with Minimalists such as Carl Andre. Over the years, his works have gained considerable attention including a solo exhibition at the Tate Modern in London. Long currently lives and works in Bristol, United Kingdom. Today, the artist’s works are held in the collections of The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh, and the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, among others.