Over the past two decades, the sculptor and painter Robin Greenwood, who has died of a brain tumour aged 72, made a significant contribution to the discussion of abstract art, through his activities as a gallerist, writer and promoter of online debate. During these years, his art flourished and he leaves behind an impressive body of paintings and steel sculpture, the latter characterised by its complex articulation and mixture of delicacy and strength.
Robin was born in Manchester, to Harry, a commercial traveller and church-organist, and Connie (nee Chiltern), a tailor, housewife and painter. He attended Wilmslow grammar school, before studying art at Stockport College of Further Education, where he met Sarah Dixon. They moved to London in 1968, married the following year, and had a son, Charley.
Robin studied at Wimbledon School of Art, then on the advanced course at St Martin’s School of Art. He taught at Wimbledon and St Martin’s until 1984, after which he started a metal-working business with Graham Burke, a former St Martin’s student. At St Martin’s in the early 1980s, Robin was involved in a rethinking of abstract sculpture through an intense study of the body. The endeavour led to his taking part in a group exhibition, Have You Seen Sculpture from the Body?, at the Tate in 1984, and laid the foundations for Robin’s later attitude to sculpture.
Early exhibitions were held at venues including PMJ Self, Covent Garden in 1975, and the Serpentine Gallery, 1979. More recently he showed sculpture at Linden Hall Studio, Deal, in 2017.
In 1995 Robin and Sarah bought a building in a yard off Bermondsey Street, south London, as a home and workshop. Robin’s renovation of the family flat, a collaboration with Blauel Architects, won the 2000 Blueprint best new residential building award.
A first cancer diagnosis prompted Robin’s retirement, and the opening of Poussin Gallery in 2005, which he co-founded with Graham Burke. Operating in what had been Robin’s workshop, Poussin championed a largely neglected group of abstract artists. By its closure in 2012 Poussin was known for its sensitively hung shows and well-produced catalogues. Its successes included the rediscovery of the New Zealand-born sculptor John Panting.
In 2011 Robin founded abstract critical with John Pluthero, sponsoring exhibitions, a prize for young artists, and a website known for its heated discussions. I worked with Robin at Poussin and on the abstract critical website. In 2013 Robin set up the Brancaster Chronicles with Anne and Tony Smart, featuring transcripts of studio discussions. Following the end of lockdown, Robin turned his blog abcrit.org into an IRL exhibition space, primarily showing younger abstract painters. In the weeks before his death, Robin and Charley curated a final studio exhibition of his paintings and sculpture that is due to be held this summer.
Robin is survived by Sarah and Charley, his brothers, Marten and Simon, a grandchild, Flossie, and three great-grandchildren.
