Sir Brian Clarke, a renowned pop-influenced artist celebrated for his stained-glass creations, has died at 71 of cancer. Born into a working-class family in Oldham, UK, Clarke's work adorned churches, mosques, airports, and offices worldwide, including King Khalid airport in Riyadh and Stansted Airport. Despite international success and high-profile commissions, he faced snobbery from the art establishment, which often viewed stained glass as a craft rather than fine art. Knighted in 2024, he was also known for his belligerent personality and involvement in legal disputes as an executor of Francis Bacon's estate and chairman of the Zaha Hadid Foundation.
Sir Brian Clarke obituary
ArtArt and designNorman FosterZaha HadidDamien HirstStansted airportUKFrancis Bacon
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Sir Brian Clarke, a renowned pop-influenced artist celebrated for his stained-glass creations, has died at 71 of cancer. Born into a working-class family in Oldham, UK, Clarke's work adorned churches, mosques, airports, and offices worldwide, including King Khalid airport in Riyadh and Stansted Airport. Despite international success and high-profile commissions, he faced snobbery from the art establishment, which often viewed stained glass as a craft rather than fine art. Knighted in 2024, he was also known for his belligerent personality and involvement in legal disputes as an executor of Francis Bacon's estate and chairman of the Zaha Hadid Foundation.
- 1 1970: Graduated with a diploma in design from North Devon College of Art and Design.
- 2 1972: Married Liz Finch.
- 3 1975: Received his first patron commission for All Saints Church in Habergham Eaves.
- 4 1978-79: Was the subject of an hour-long BBC Omnibus programme.
- 5 1980: Commissioned to design a decorative programme for the mosque at King Khalid airport in Riyadh.
- 6 1983: Photographed by John Swannell for the National Portrait Gallery.
- 7 1990: Covered Queen Victoria Street in Leeds with a glazed roof.
- 8 1991: Added backlit panels and pillars to Norman Foster’s design for Stansted Airport.
- 9 1992: Francis Bacon died, and Clarke became an executor of his estate.
- 10 1994: Commissioned for Will Alsop’s Hôtel du Département des Bouches du Rhône.
- 11 1995: Commissioned for the New York headquarters of Pfizer.
- 12 1996: Divorced Liz Finch.
- 13 1998: Became sole executor of Bacon's estate and launched a lawsuit against Marlborough gallery.
- 14 2013: Remarried Liz Finch.
- 15 2016: Zaha Hadid died, and Clarke became chairman of the Zaha Hadid Foundation.
- 16 2023: Described an epiphany on the online arts platform Heni; had an exhibition at Damien Hirst’s Newport Street gallery to mark his 70th birthday.
- 17 2024: Knighted.
- 18 Recently: Died aged 71 of cancer.
- Loss of a significant artist in the field of stained glass
- Legacy of his architectural and artistic works around the world
What: Obituary for Sir Brian Clarke, a prominent British artist known for his stained-glass creations.
When: Died recently at the age of 71. He was knighted in 2024.
Where: Born in Oldham, UK. His work is displayed internationally in locations such as Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), New York (USA), France, Austria, and Leeds (UK).
Why: Died of cancer.
How: N/A (obituary detailing life and career).