A Guide to the Work of Maggi Hambling

Born in 1945, Maggi Hambling is a British artist whose work, spanning painting, sculpture, and drawing, is celebrated for its emotional intensity and fearless confrontation with beauty and mortality. Her career, which began in the late 1960s, has been marked by public controversy and an uncompromising pursuit of artistic integrity.

^{Maggi Hambling (b.1945) British, ‘Summer Wave III’}

^{Sold for £6,200} 

Hambling's early interest in art was discovered at school and formalised at prestigious institutions, including the Ipswich School of Art, Camberwell, and the Slade School of Fine Art. She developed a distinctive approach that blends technical skill with emotional honesty, and her early work often depicted landscapes (and portraits) influenced by her upbringing in Suffolk. These themes have recurred throughout her career.

Maggi Hambling is perhaps best known for her powerful portraits. Her paintings of figures such as George Melly, Max Wall, and her own father are remarkable for their depth and expressive brushwork. Rather than simply capturing a likeness, Hambling seeks to reveal the inner life of her subjects, referring to the process as 'a bit like a love affair' (TateShots, 2018), and often paints directly from life, working quickly to capture fleeting moods and gestures. She is also famous for painting her subjects in death, earning herself the nickname Maggi 'Coffin' Hambling. The result is a body of work that is both intimate and unflinchingly honest.

^{Maggi Hambling (b.1945) British, ‘Summer Wave IV’} 

^{Sold for £4,900}

The Suffolk coast, with its moody skies and restless waves, is a central theme in Hambling's work. Examples include the "North Sea" paintings and the "Wall of Water" series. Inspired by violent storms, these works are less about literal representation and more about the emotional experience of observing the sea's power and the crashing shingle. Thick, swirling brushstrokes evoke the force and unpredictability of the sea, while subtle shifts in colour and light convey the passing of time. In these works, the viewer is invited to see other shapes, faces, even dancers in the water, making the experience entirely personal and fluid.

Hambling's sculptures have often been highly controversial, challenging public expectations of commemoration and beauty. Her most famous public work, "A Conversation with Oscar Wilde" (1998), sits in central London and invites viewers to sit alongside Wilde's sculpture and have a chat. The "Scallop" (2003), a tribute to composer Benjamin Britten on Aldeburgh beach, is equally provocative. The striking steel structure has been both praised as a sensitive homage and criticised for its intrusion into the landscape. As Hambling remarks, 'They didn't want the Eiffel Tower in the beginning either. Now it's the symbol of Paris.' (The Gentlewoman, 2023)

^{Maggi Hambling (b.1945) British, ‘Summer Wave II’}

^{Sold for £4,400}

Throughout her career, Hambling has refused to compromise her artistic vision for popularity or convention. Her work is held in significant collections, including the National Portrait Gallery and Tate, and she continues to exhibit. The collectors' market for her work is robust, and the team here at Dawsons Auctioneers has sold several pieces that have exceeded their target price (higher estimate). If you are looking to sell any art by Maggi Hambling, the expert team at Dawsons can help. We will provide a seamless process, encompassing valuation, photography, global marketing and sale to a huge audience; whilst our aim is simple - to ensure you achieve the highest possible price at auction.

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