William Turnbull

Across painting and sculpture, Turnbull explored elemental forms and art's role as connective tissue between prehistoric past and present.

Why go

This survey of Turnbull's transformative first period (1946–1959) traces his response to post-WWII crisis of meaning, spanning his time in Surrealist Paris and Abstract Expressionist New York, punctuated by inclusion in major exhibitions of modern British art.

Things to know

• Turnbull worked across painting, sculpture, collage, and bronze
• His early work included collages (Circus Collage, 1947; Aquarium, 1949) and bronze sculptures (Horse, 1950; Acrobat, 1951)
• The exhibition spans 1946–1959, bookended by his time in Surrealist Paris and Abstract Expressionist New York
• Works on view include Trojan (1959, bronze and marble), Source (1958, bronze and stone), and Idol 2 (1956, bronze)
• A conversation with curator Martina Droth and Turnbull's sons Alex and Johnny Turnbull was held April 4, 2026