Nickel Yard
Tyzack, Michael
Life Story
Michael Tyzack was a leading figure in the development of British abstraction in the 1960s. His paintings from this period use colour and geometric forms to generate dynamic optical effects. The abstract wave forms in this painting create a sense of multi-directional movement which is deliberately disrupted on the central horizontal axis. Tyzack’s dynamic handling of flat colour appealed to the American art critic Clement Greenberg, who awarded him the John Moore’s painting prize in 1965 for Alesso ‘B’, a painting that makes a comparable use of abstract wave patterns.
Lisa Newby, June 2022
Exhibitions
'Rhythm and Geometry: Constructivist art in Britain since 1951', Sainsbury Centre, UK, 02/10/2021 - 17/07/2022
Further Reading
Tania Moore and Calvin Winner (eds.), Rhythm and Geometry: Constructivist art in Britain since 1951 (Norwich: Sainsbury Centre, 2021), p.56.
Provenance
In October 1984, the University of East Anglia accepted a planned bequest from Joyce and Michael Morris (UEA Alumni). Michael died in 2009 and Joyce in December 2014 when the couple's wishes were implemented.
Not on display
Title/Description: Nickel Yard
Born: 1967
Accession Number: 31570
Historic Period: 20th century
Credit Line: Bequeathed by Joyce and Michael Morris, 2014
