Desmond Fountain
Arguably Bermuda’s most successful artist, Desmond Fountain’s sculptures are on display worldwide.
He has been commissioned to create sculptures in Bermuda, Europe, North America and even as far away as China. His works have been displayed at numerous galleries in the United States, Europe as well as locally.
Born in Bermuda on December 29, 1946, he spent his early childhood in Sierra Leone, West Africa. He won his first art award [in an adult exhibition] when he was six and sold his first piece at age eleven.
He studied art in the 1960’s in Britain, at Stoke-on-Trent College of Art, Exeter College of Art and the University of Bristol. His first London one-man show was held in London in 1980.
Mr. Fountain was made a fellow of the prestigious Royal Society of British Artists in 1986 – an honour rarely bestowed. He was also the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Bermuda Government in 2003.
In an illegal and immoral twist on the cliche “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”, Mr. Fountain has been victim to illegal reproductions of his artwork.
His bronze sculptures were illegally mass reproduced in Asia and sold for a fraction of the original value in the USA and Europe. Approximately twenty of his sculptures had been copied illegally, including one of former Miss World Gina Swainson.
Since which, Mr. Fountain’s lawyers have been busy successfully prosecuting these criminals.
Below is Mr. Fountain’s sculpture of Sir George Somers, which was unveiled in St George’s by Princess Margaret in 1984.
Desmond Fountain’s exhibitions and galleries include:
• Bermuda Soc of Arts 1958
• Exe Gallery Devon 1968
• Exeter City Museum and Art Gallery 1969 and 1970
• Spectrum Designs Ltd Devon 1969
• Univ of Bristol 1970
• City Hall Bermuda (two man show) 1972
• City Hall Bermuda (four man show) 1973
• Country Art Gallery USA 1974
• Bermuda Soc of Arts Gp Show 1974
• City Hall Bermuda (three man show) 1975
• Bridge House Art Gallery Bermuda (fndr Desmond Fountain) 1976
• Newport USA 1976, The Int Gallery Bermuda (three man show) 1977
• St George’s Gallery Middx 1977,
• Windjammer Gallery Bermuda 1980, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1993 and 1998
• Bermuda Soc of Arts Members Show 1980
• Glen Gallery Canada 1981
• South African Gallery London 1981
• Poole Fine Art USA 1981
• Boston Fine Art Inc 1981
• Coach House Gallery Guernsey 1983
• Sally Le Gallis Jersey 1983
• Renaissance Gallery USA 1983 and 1986
• Alwin Gallery Summer Exhibition London 1985
• Alwin Gallery UK 1986 and 1987
• RSBS USA 1986
• Br Sculptors Art Centre Bermuda 1987
• Art Expo LA 1987
• World Congress USA 1987
• The Sculpture Gallery Bermuda 1989
• Pinehurst Gallery NC 1990
• Hartley Hill Gallery Calif 1992 93
• E S Lawrence Gallery Aspen 1993
• Cavalier Galleries Stamford 1993
• RSBS Chelsea Harbour 1993
• L’Ortolan Sculpture Garden Berks 1993
• Perry House Galleries Alexandria USA 1994
• Bruton Street London 1994
• Bermuda National Gallery, Retropective 1995
• Cavalier Galleries Greenwich and Nantucket 1995-2008
• Royall Fine Art Tunbridge Wells 2005-2008
• DeFined Art, Esher, 2006 – 2008
• Masterworks Gallery, Bermuda, 2008
• The Gallery, Mayfair, London, 2008
His solo exhibitions include:
• H A & E Smith Ltd Bermuda 1975
• A S Cooper & Sons Gallery 1976
• Hamma Galleries Bermuda 1978
• Alwin Gallery London 1980
• Bacardi Int 1982
• Coach House Gallery, Guernsey 1983
• Sally Le Gallais, Jersey 1983
• Renaissance Gallery, Stamford Ct 1983-1986
• Windjammer, Bermuda 1985, 86, 89, 93
• The Sculpture Gallery, Bermuda 1989-2000
• l’Ortolan, Berkshire 1993
• The Desmond Fountain Gallery, Bermuda 2000-06
• Bermuda National Gallery, Retropective 1995
• Falle Fine Art Jersey 1995 and 1997
• Cavalier Gallery USA 1995, Coutts Bermuda 1996
Mr Fountain has been commissioned to produce artwork for various groups worldwide including:
• Sculpture of Sir George Somers for St George’s unveiled by HRH Princess Margaret 1984
• Medallions in silver, gold and platinum featuring a portrait of HRH Princess Margaret 1985
• Spirit of Joanna Greece 1993 94
• Sculpture of Mark Twain unveiled at Directors’ Circle preview of Bermuda Nat Gall retrospective 1994 95
• Sculpture of The Spirit of Bermuda: Johnny Barnes 1997 98
• Heroes of the Oz Trial for Felix Dennis, UK 1997 2000
• Jorgen Svendsen for Belzona in Harrogate 2002; 2003
• Sarah [3x life size], for The World Sculpture Park, Changchun, China. 2006
• Matriarch for a private location in Austria 2010
Below is “Sculpture of The Spirit of Bermuda: Johnny Barnes”
For further information visit Desmondfountain.com
