Inspiration: The Profound Abstract Art & History of Artist Victor Pasmore

The artist Victor Pasmore was one of the most distinguished British abstract artists of the 20th century with a diverse career as an artist, an academic, a printmaker, and even an architect. His work is as inspiring as the trajectory of his career as an artist.

A Short History of Artist Victor Pasmore’s Career

Born in 1908, Victor Pasmore was educated at Harrow and the Summer Fields School and influenced by Impressionist painters, painting mostly landscapes at this time.

After moving to London in 1927, Pasmore studied at the Central School of Art then in 1934 became involved with the “Objective Abstractions,” a London-based group of abstract painters.

It was around this time that Victor Pasmore dabbled in tachism, but moved back to the style of realism by 1936. Pasmore founded the Euston Road School a year later, focusing on naturalism, but the group closed in 1939 due to the unfortunate outbreak of WWII.

During the 1940’s Pasmore was more and more influenced by French Post-Impressionism, and in 1947 he pursued a turn in style to a more abstract form, inspired by Ben Nicholson, Paul Klee, and Piet Mondrian.

Along with Mary and Kenneth Martin, Victor Pasmore became the leading figure in the Constructivist revival in the UK at the time. He also taught at a multitude of universities, including the Camberwell School of Art, the Central School of Arts and Crafts, Durham University, and the University of Newcastle.

In 1954 he became the “Consulting Director of Urban Design for South West Area” of Peterlee in Durham Country and designed the architecture of this area until 1977 when the project reached completion.

In 1966, he moved to Malta and started printmaking. Printmaking became a large part of his creative process until his death in 1998.

The Art of Victor Pasmore

As you can see, Victor Pasmore had an extensive and diversified body of work, so there is no shortage of work to inspire you below.

“Lamplight”, 1941

“The Quiet River: The Thames at Chiswick”, 1943-4

“The Gardens of Hammersmith No. 2,” 1949

“Spiral Motif in Black, White and Indigo”, 1951

“Synthetic Relief Construction”, 1966

Apollo Pavilion in Peterlee, 1969

“Points of Contact No. 22”,1974

“Magic Eye 1”, 1995

To learn more about Victor Pasmore and to view more of his work, you can visit his official site here, and at the Tate, here.

Are you familiar with Victor Pasmore’s work? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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Posted by Alison Hickey

Alison Hickey is a set designer based in Toronto. Her credits include 'Schitt's Creek', 'The Good Witch', 'Remedy', and 'Spun Out'.

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