Antony Gormley is one of the foremost sculptors of his generation, with monumental outdoor works that include the Another Place, Crosby Beach near Liverpool 1997, Angel of the North, Gateshead 1998 and Event Horizon,  London 2007. He won the Turner Prize in 1984 and became a Royal Academician in 2003. He taught at Brighton Polytechnic in the 1980s.

Another Place by Anthony Gormley, sculpted human figures stand along the beach at intervals facing the sea

Anthony Gormley, Another Place, Crosby, Merseyside.

In 2009, on the anniversary of Brighton Art College’s 150th anniversary, Antony Gormley wrote:

“I have great memories of teaching at Brighton College of Art both in terms of the brilliant students, their commitment and wide and energetic experimentation. They often worked at scale on landscape projects, sometimes in photography, sometimes in metal or with mud and wood.  In the summer of 1986 we had a wonderful last adventure on the isle of Portland.

“I taught with Nicholas Pope and Gerard Williams on the sculpture course under the able direction of James Tower. Everyone felt part of a competitive but distinctive group within the college, devoted to exploring all the possibilities of working with site and material in three dimensions.

Ink drawing by sculptor Anthony Gormley of two figures connected, heads disappearing into black horizon.

Anthony Gormley

“It was James’ care in constituting the chemistry of a year, through the interview process, that made the course so delightful to teach because of the range of sensibilities and their complementary energies. Theory and art history was strong with Stuart Morgan and Fenella Crighton. Stuart was probably one of the most articulate and wide ranging intellects writing about art in the 1980s. He was passionately independent, superbly literate as well as visual in his range of references, and supportive and acerbic in the way that he analysed, encouraged and helped you to see what was an underlying motivation in the work.

“There is something about the light, freedom and openness of the college that makes Brighton a different place to any other. Its proximity to London and the internationalism of the young community give it an energy all of its own. I am proud to have worked there.”

Antony Gormley, 2009