Derek Carruthers fiberglass wall panel United Kingdom 1975

Rare artwork by UK artist Derek Carruthers, made in his own atelier in United Kingdom in 1975. A sculpture made of off white painted fiberglass with a cool tone, shaped over a mould. It’s got an abstract feel that kind of reminds you of Lucio Fontana’s work. What’s really special is that it’s three-dimensional, which is quite rare for Carruthers since he mostly painted. A highly decorative collectors item. It looks like it’s still holding some tension, adding the dynamic feel. You can see the corners of a square and four slats, with three of them ribbed. The hand painted fiberglass has this awesome original patina from age, giving it a unique and elegant look that we love. It’s signed and dated ‘Derek Carruthers 1975’ at the back.

Since the 1930s, fiberglass has been put to an increasing number of uses. The wide range of applications demonstrate how versatile the material is, from its use in the rotor blades of helicopters to fiberglass being the material from which the body of the Corvette, an icon in American car industry, is made. The material is commonly used in making things such as surfboards and the pillar caps of the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier. The latter example is particularly impressive, as the material was meant to withstand the wind and weather for twenty years, and after ten years it turned out that the material had become harder than it was in its first year!

Derek Carruthers, an artist in various media and teacher, born in Penrith, Cumberland. Studied art at King’s College, Newcastle University, 1953–7, teachers including Victor Pasmore and Lawrence Gowing. Taught at Sunderland College of Art, 1957–64, and eventually retired as professor of fine art at Trent Polytechnic, Nottingham. Carruthers was early influenced by Pasmore, but eventually went through what he called a “post-Modernist rethink” and produced metaphysical landscapes. He had solo shows at Univision Gallery, Newcastle, in 1957 and at Drian Galleries, 1963–5. Was included in the Arts Council show Construction England, 1963, and in Belgrave Gallery’s 1992 exhibition British abstract art of the 50s and 60s. Carruthers’ work was part of L.S. Lowry and those he inspired, an exhibition organised by Danny Greening Fine Art at Gallery 27 in 2004. Leicester University and public galleries in Bradford and Kendal hold his work. Lived in Nottingham.