The celebrated Yorkshire sculptor Melanie Wilks, who specialises in publicly-commissioned outdoor works, is holding a retrospective exhibition at Batley Art Gallery.
Including a range of drawings as well as sculptures, the show will feature her most recent work along with highlights from her 25-year career.
Melanie, who works from a studio in Dewsbury and teaches sculpture, is the creator of the Ernie Wise ‘bringing sunshine’ sculpture in Morley town centre, where the iconic comedian started his career in showbusiness.
She also created a statue of former slave and leading abolitionist Harriet Tubman for Black History Month, which is on display in Huddersfield Library & Art Gallery, and a sculpture of a coal face miner that was commissioned by The Lofthouse Residents Association and Leeds City Council.
A prolific artist, this year alone she was commissioned by The Milestone Society to produce a Pack Horse sculpture in Yorkshire stone for a site in Marsden and a Hare for the Pennines Heritage Trail in Slaithwaite.
A member of the Yorkshire Sculptors Group, Melanie studied art at Portsmouth University before working and exhibiting in London.
In 1991 she completed at MA in Fine Art Sculpture at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Her work ranges from the figurative to the abstract and is mostly stone-carved, using traditional techniques.
She recently taught a medieval stone-carving course at The Hepworth in Wakefield.
Melanie’s exhibition is on until January 30, 2016, and entry is free. The gallery is open every day except Sunday.
To see other examples of Melanie’s work visit www.melaniewilks.com
