Austin Wright

Austin Wright studied Modern Languages at New College, Oxford and trained to become a teacher. His first teaching post was at The Downs School near Malvern in 1934, where he worked alongside W. H Auden and Maurice Feild who held a Dada School exhibition whilst Wright was at the school. In 1937 Wright moved to York and taught languages at Bootham School. His figurative work was influenced by Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth. As a conscientious objector, Wright remained in Yorkshire during the Second World War, continuing to teach at Bootham. His work was admired by Charles Sewter, who commented 'It would not be outrageous, far from it, to claim that Austin Wright is the most gifted sculptor working in Britain today.'