Ronald Moody

Ronald Moody (1900 – 1984) was an important 20th century artist within both British sculpture and international art history.

Moody’s ambition to present human life – from figurative representations of family and political figures through to symbolic depictions of hope, cosmic entities and universal human truths – vibrates through the array of sculptural materials he mastered.

In 1961, Moody reflected, ‘Why am I a sculptor? I have never given myself a satisfactory answer. One does not choose a way of life – and with me it is a way of life – one grows into it: a subtle process of interaction of past and present. My past is a mixture of African, Asian and European influences, my present is the result of the friction of Europe with my past. This has not resulted in my becoming an ersatz European, but has shown what is valuable in my inheritance, which I think shows in my work.’

His 2024 exhibition, Ronald Moody: Sculpting Life, brought together over fifty of Moody’s sculptures, presenting a life-time of creativity.   Moody was shown alongside his contemporaries to highlight shared inspirations, artistic connections and supporting networks. Tracing Moody’s life and work, the exhibition also explored his broader creative outputs, from poetry and broadcasting to making jewellery.

In 2024, The Hepworth Wakefield presented the major retrospective Ronald Moody: Sculpting Life, which has resulted in 18 sculptures by Moody being acquired into Wakefield Council Permanent Art Collection, as managed by The Hepworth Wakefield. We have also acquired the papers and archive of Cynthia Moody, Ronald Moody’s niece, who was instrumental in securing Moody’s legacy through her years of research.

This timeline  of Moody’s life provides an overview of the artist’s life and work.