SPOTLIGHT ON: William Mitchell - Concrete Sculptor & Artist
William Mitchell was a renowned British sculptor, artist and designer - celebrated for his distinctive contributions to Brutalist art and architecture.
His creations are marked by their strong, textured forms and the use of unconventional materials like concrete.
Best known for his large scale concrete murals and public works of art from the 1960s and 1970s, Mitchell’s imaginatively patterned creations appeared in Brutalist social housing projects, public parks, tunnels, private insurance offices, cathedrals, cinemas and much more.
His designs reflected similar elements and principals to Architect Goldfinger, such as bold geometric forms, exposed concrete, and a focus on functionality.
Relief sculpture by William Mitchell, in Maida Vale, where he was born. The sculpture is called “Two Doves” and symbolises Peace, Love and Learning in memory of English poet and playwright Robert Browning.
William Mitchell loved to experiment, leading to a variety of projects with different finishes and styles.
He used recycled wood and old furniture to make mosaics, melted and recast recycled glass, and added colour with poured resin and polyurethane.
He also used modern materials like GRP (glass-reinforced plastic) and GRC (glass-reinforced concrete) to create large panel installations.
Mitchell was one of the few artists to investigate Faircrete, a concrete product developed by John Laing, that could be carved whilst still wet.
Although some of Mitchells’ work was demolished along with the Brutalist structures they were contained in, much of his work is now being conserved and celebrated in modern contexts today.
His unique approach to sculptural reliefs, often integrated into public buildings and spaces, has received renewed appreciation.
Restoration projects across the UK are adapting them to fit contemporary aesthetics, indicating that many still have a deep appreciation for Brutalist architecture.
This mural by William Mitchell, is part of a hotel entrance in Mayfair.
Leon House in Croydon - an example of Mitchell’s work being conserved in a modern context.
