Tim Prentice (sculptor)

American sculptor (1930–2025)
Tim Prentice
Born(1930-11-05)November 5, 1930
DiedNovember 25, 2025(2025-11-25) (aged 95)
EducationYale School of Architecture
Known forSculpture
MovementKinetic art
Awards2014 Governor's Arts Award, Connecticut, 2009 Transfield Kinetic Artist Prize, Sculpture by the Sea, Sydney, Australia
Websitetimprentice.com

Tim Prentice (November 5, 1930 – November 25, 2025) was an American kinetic sculptor and architect.[1][2] He received a master's degree in architecture from the Yale School of Architecture in 1960 and founded the award-winning company of Prentice & Chan in 1965. He resided in Cornwall, Connecticut.[3][4]

Ten years after forming Prentice & Chan, he established his studio in Cornwall to design and fabricate kinetic sculpture. His corporate clients included American Express, Bank of America, Citigroup, Mobil, AT&T and Hewlett-Packard. He has completed installations in Japan, Korea, Northern Ireland, and Australia. The lobby of Eleven Times Square features one of his kinetic mobile installations.[5] One of his notable works include "Flashdance", at the Jacksonville International Airport, containing suspended kinetic elements that move in response to air currents generated by a moving escalator.[6]

His work was influenced by Alexander Calder and George Rickey, but the critic Grace Glueck stated that his work's 'gently assertive character is very much his own.' His works were on display at the Maxwell Davidson Gallery in New York City in 2000.[7]

In his later years, Prentice experienced macular degeneration and vision loss, which he reported to not have impacted his artistic career.[1][8] Prentice died on November 25, 2025, at the age of 95.[1]

Book

  • Drawing on the Air: The Kinetic Sculpture of Tim Prentice, (2012) Easton Studio Press

Public collections

Residencies and workshops

Professional roles and memberships

References

  1. ^ a b c Phillips, A’Dora (2025-12-11). "Tim Prentice, Kinetic Sculptor Who Made 'Toys for the Wind', Has Died at 95". The Vision & Art Project. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  2. ^ Lloyd-Smith, Harriet (2021-08-04). "Tim Prentice on changing the movement of kinetic art". Wallpaper. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  3. ^ "Tim Prentice," September 27, 1987, Hartford Courant.
  4. ^ "Tim Prentice: After the Mobile". The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  5. ^ Pete Davies (March 12, 2010). "11 Times Square Flaunts Phantom Tenants". New York Curbed. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  6. ^ "See Flashdance by Tim Prentice at Jacksonville International Airport, Jacksonville". www.wescover.com. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
  7. ^ "ART IN REVIEW; Tim Prentice (Published 2000)". 2000-01-28. Archived from the original on 2024-12-17. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  8. ^ "Three Venerable Artists In Open Your Eyes Tour". The Lakeville Journal. 2018-06-27. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  9. ^ Thomas, M. (18 October 2015). "Westmoreland Museum of American Art spreads its wings". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  • timprentice.com
  • New York Times article
  • https://web.archive.org/web/20130512184705/http://www.timprentice.com/images/Sculpture_March_2012.pdf
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