An internationally renowned Cumbrian artist who created Cleator Moor’s iconic mining monuments has died at the age of 82.
Conrad Atkinson, of Cleator Moor, was born in 1940 and worked as both a teacher and mixed media artist. His work was often considered controversial and regularly referred to social and political themes.
One of his most recognisable Cumbrian works of art is his memorial sculpture for West Cumbrian iron ore miners in Cleator Moor.
The three sculptures are a memorial to a the area’s old mining industry and represent the miner, the phoenix and the hand.
For Mr Atkinson, Cleator Moor was a world away from the Lake District and since the 1960s his art has frequently explored the problems and hardships experienced by residents struggling with unemployment, depopulation and illnesses arising from working in local industries such as the iron ore mines.
Known as an activist, he also had his work banned in Northern Ireland for 30 years but in 2006 was invited to Belfast and commissioned to create works on the evolving peace and reconciliation process.
He frequently created art on The Troubles and was dedicated to finding justice for the people of Northern Ireland. His exhibition A Shade of Green, An Orange Edge in Belfast in 1975 was the first time the war was addressed in a gallery.
Conrad’s connection to Northern Ireland is allegedly due to Cleator Moor’s connection, as an influx of Irish workers gave the town the nickname Little Ireland in 1931.
He graduated with degrees from Carlisle College of Art, now known as the University of Cumbria’s Brampton Road Campus, Liverpool College of Art, the Royal Academy Schools and later won a Granada Fellowship.
He showed his work in a number of galleries over his lifetime, including solo shows at Ronald Feldman Fine Arts in New York, Ruth Bloom Gallery in Los Angeles California, Tate Modern in London and ICA in Moscow, as well as Tullie House in Carlisle.
Over his lifetime, he was a distinguished visiting professor at many of the major arts schools and universities throughout the world, including the University of California and Courtauld Institute at London University.
He was also made an honorary fellow at the University of Cumbria in 2006 as well as a Churchill fellow and associate fellow at the Manchester College of Art.
University of Cumbria Professor, Julie Mennell, said: “We are saddened to hear about the death of Professor Conrad Atkinson and our thoughts are with Margaret Harrison and their family at this time. Conrad graduated from Carlisle College of Art in 1961 and went on to become one of the leading artists of his generation.
“Both he and his wife Margaret are celebrated alumni and Honorary Fellows of the now University of Cumbria and have maintained a close relationship over the years with the Brampton Road campus in Carlisle where they both studied, and which is today the home of our Institute of Arts.”
Despite splitting his time between his studios in California, New York and Cumbria, he was praised by the university for never distancing himself from his birthplace of Cleator Moor and Cumbria, its people and issues.
Conrad is survived by his wife, artist Margaret Harrison, and their two daughters.
