Thomas Merrett
Thomas Merrett (b. Suffolk in 1987) is a sculptor, draughtsman and printmaker based in East London. His work is centred around the human form, a fascination for anatomy and movement, and the challenge of portraying this in sculpture and drawing. Merrett aims to create a unique interpretation of the subject in front of him rather than a literal replication of their likeness. He reduces his sculptures in to more basic forms in an attempt to capture the subject’s character whilst moving beyond the physical anatomy of the human form.
He trained at the City and Guilds of London Art School and the Florence Academy of Art and since 2017 has been a member of Society of Portrait Sculptors. In 2017, Merrett was commissioned to create the bronze-cast sculpture ‘Flight’, now on permanent display at the Founders Hall. His work is in numerous collections, including the permanent collection of the Museu Europeu d’Art Modern (MEAM) in Barcelona. He was awarded a Queen Elizabeth Scholarship (QEST) in 2014, the International Founders Sculpture Prize in 2016 and in 2021 named as a finalist for the National Sculpture Prize (NSP2021), the commissioned work is currently on display at Broomhill Sculpture Park in Devon, UK.
EXHIBITIONS
2023 Spirit & Nature, Group Exhibition, AMP Gallery, Peckham
2023 Larger than Life, Messums West, Wiltshire, UK
2023 Figure + Form, Bowman Gallery, London
2023 The Listeners & Other Works, Solo Exhibition, 54 the Gallery, London
2022 ‘FACE2022’, The Society of Portrait Sculptors, Garrison Chapel, London
2021 National Sculpture Prize (NSP2021), Broomhill Estate, Devon, UK
2021 Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London
2021 Figurative Art Now, Federation of British Artists, Online - Mall Galleries
2020 ‘Avoiding the Hodgepodge’, Crean & Company
2019 ‘Figurativas 2019’, MEAM, Museu Europeu d’Art Modern, Barcelona
2019 ‘Rising Stars’, Royal Society of British Artists, Royal Over-Seas League, London
2019 ‘FACE2019’, The Society of Portrait Sculptors, La Galleria Pall Mall, London
2018 ‘RBA Rising Stars’, the Royal Society of British Artists, Framers Gallery, London
2018 ‘FACE2018’, The Society of Portrait Sculptors, La Galleria Pall Mall, London
2017 ‘Founders Sculpture Prize Exhibition’, La Galleria Pall Mall, London
2017 Solo exhibition, Sladmore Contemporary, London
2017 RBSA Portrait Prize Exhibition, RBSA Gallery, Birmingham, UK
2016 FACE2016, The Society of Portrait Sculptors, La Galleria Pall Mall, London
2014 Imaginative Sculpture, The Deans Cloister, St Georges Chapel, Windsor
2011 FACE2011, The Society of Portrait Sculptors, The Gallery, Cork Street, London
2010 East Anglian Artists Exhibition, The Long Shop Museum, Leiston, Suffolk
2009 Chelsea Arts Club, London
2008 Graduation Show, City and Guilds of London Art School
RESIDENCIES
2022 Marchmont House, Commissioning Residency, Scotland
2019 Marble Workshop - Pietrasanta, Tuscany, Italy
2016 Sculptor in residence at ‘MakersHouse’ with Burberry & The New Craftsmen,London
2008 Peralta 8 week studio residency, Peralta, Italy
PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
Marchmont House, Scotland
MEAM, Museu Europeu d’Art Modern, Barcelona
Founders Hall, Worshipful Company of Founders, London
AWARDS, HONOURS, GRANTS, COMPETITIONS
2021 National Sculpture Prize 2021, Finalist
2020 Purchase Award, Museu Europeu d’Art Modern, MEAM, Barcelona
2019 Heatherley’s Prize - commended, FACE2019 - The Society of Portrait Sculptors
2018 RBA Rome Scholarship, Shortlisted, the Royal Society of British Artists
2017 Elected member of the Society of Portrait Sculptors
2017 RBSA Portrait Prize - Highly Commended, RBSA Gallery
2016 Founders Sculpture Prize, The Worshipful Company of Founders
2016 TIAC Scholarship - The International Arts & Culture Group (TIAC)
2016 Honourable Mention for Drawing, The Florence Academy of Art
2015-16 The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant
2015 Tiranti Prize - commended,FACE2015 - Society of Portrait Sculptors
2014 Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust, QEST Scholar
2008 Taylor Pearce drawing prize
2008 Worshipful Company of Masons award
2008 Chelsea Arts Club Trust award, Peralta Prize