Alexandra Wejchert
Biography of Irish-Polish Abstract Stainless Steel Sculptor

HISTORY OF SCULPTURE
For a guide to the chronology
and evolution of 3-D art,
see: Sculpture History.

Alexandra Wejchert (1921-1995)

A visually powerful contributor to Irish sculpture, Alexandra Wejchert was born in Poland but moved to Ireland in 1965 and gained Irish Citizenship in 1979. One of the most internationally minded Irish artists, she is best known for her large free flowing abstract stainless steel sculptures, including 'Phoenix' (University of Limerick) and 'Freedom' (Bank of Ireland, Computer Center Dublin).

Wejchert grew up in Danzig (Gdansk) during the Second World War, and went on to study architecture at Warsaw University and then painting at the Academy of Fine Arts, Warsaw. At first she planned to become an architect, then a painter, before finding her forte in sculpture. In an effort to forget the depravity and horrific experiences of war time Poland she determined to leave her country. After living for a while in Italy and France, she moved to Ireland when her brother Andreji Wejchert won the competition for the Arts Building in University College Dublin, and remained here for the rest of her life.

WORLD'S BEST SCULPTORS
For a list of the world's best ever
stone/wood carvers and bronze
artists, see: Greatest Sculptors.

MORE ABOUT SCULPTURE
For more facts, see: Plastic Art.
For more about arts in Ireland
see: Irish Art Questions.

The Irish landscape has been responsible for drawing many talented foreign artists to its shore, particularly after the Second World War. Alexandra Wejchert, Gerda Fromel and Imogen Stuart in sculpture; Hilda van Stockum, Barrie Cooke, Charles Brady, Camille Souter and Veronica Bolay in fine art. Other artists with Irish roots who settled back in the homeland, including William Crozier and Stephen McKenna, did so because they identified strongly with the landscape.

Wejchert first exhibited at the Irish Exhibition of Living Art in 1966, and won the Carroll's prize in 1968. In addition to bronze, some wood and stone, she continued to experiment with metal and her architectural sculptures were abstract enough to give her works an international feel. She quickly became favoured for commissions from clients such as Bank of Ireland, Barclays Bank, Irish Life, Conrad Hotel Dublin, University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin and the Holy Trinity Church in Dublin. Her last commission was for University College Cork.

Important Works of Art
For the best plastic art, see: Greatest Sculptures Ever.

Wejchert died in 1995, and the Royal Hibernian Academy held a posthumous exhibition of her works the same year. She influenced a generation of other young Irish sculptors including Eilis O Connell, Vivienne Roche and Michael Warren, who would all go on to create innovative public works.

Sculpture Appreciation: Ireland
To learn how to evaluate Irish-based abstract sculptors like Alexandra Wejchert, see: How to Appreciate Modern Sculpture. For earlier works, please see: How to Appreciate Sculpture.

Solo Exhibitions

1959 - Galleria dell Obelisco, Rome
1966 - Molesworth Gallery, Dublin
1968 - Galerie Lambert, Ile St Louis, Paris
1969 - David Hendriks Gallery, Dublin
1971 - Kenny Gallery, Galway
1973 - David Hendriks Gallery, Dublin
1992 - Solomon Gallery, Dublin.

Further Information

For classical works, see Greek Sculpture. For more about Irish sculptors, see: John Hogan (Waterford), John Henry Foley (Dublin), Oliver Sheppard (Tyrone), Rosamund Praeger (County Down), Albert Power (Dublin), Seamus Murphy (Cork), FE McWilliam (County Down), Edward Delaney (Dublin), Conor Fallon (Dublin), Oisin Kelly (Dublin), Eamonn O'Doherty (Derry) and Rowan Gillespie (Dublin).

• For more facts about sculptors and contemporary sculpture in Ireland, see: Irish Art Guide.
• For information about ceramics sculpture, see: Ceramic Art.
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