Anthony Quinn is an actor, sculptor, and painter. Born in Chihuahua, Mexico in 1915 to a half-Irish father, Frank Quinn and a Mexican-Indian mother, Manuela Oaxaca. Whilst still at school, winning an architecture competition enabled Quinn to study and work with the famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright - an encounter which was to change his life forever. At Frank Lloyd Wright'ss recommendation to improve his speech, Anthony had an operation on his frenulum, and afterwards, for speech therapy, started acting classes. He worked as a janitor to pay for his lessons and when one young actor fell ill, the teacher asked Anthony to take his part in the school play. He received wonderful reviews and thus began his career as an actor. However Anthony Quinn continued to paint and sculpt throughout his life - this was no hobby.

Quinn was a prolific and talented artist whose work is much sought after. His works on paper utilize whatever material was to hand – hotel notepaper, menus, notepads and sculptural media included bronze, steel, and marble.

After more than 60 years of performing – on stage, for television and in films – a career that included the creation of truly classic characters in La Strada, Viva Zapata, Lust for Life, Lawrence of Arabia and Zorba the Greek – and as a recipient of 2 Academy Awards and 6 nominations – Anthony Quinn will always be remembered as the consummate actor.  His work as an artist is less well-known and this exhibition serves to highlight his extraordinary talent. 

Although he had painted and sculpted since the age of six, it was not until the 1980’s that Quinn discovered he could have another career as an artist.  Whilst working on location in the deserts of North Africa and the Middle East, he had always sculpted small pieces of stone and wood.  He began to enlarge these ‘maquettes’ into full-sized sculptures with the intention of decorating his home.  To his surprise, visitors started asking him where they could buy the artwork.  He was given a one-man exhibition at a gallery in Honolulu, Hawaii and every piece in the show was sold.  

During his teenage years, he won various art competitions in California.  Later, Quinn studied under Frank Lloyd Wright, through the Taliesin Fellowship - an opportunity created by winning first prize in an architectural design contest.  It was through Wright’s recommendation that he took acting lessons which led to an acting career that spanned over six decades.

Over the years, Quinn’s work caught the eye of various gallery owners and was exhibited internationally in New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Mexico City.  His work is now represented in both public and private collections throughout the world.

The Anthony Quinn Foundation is a non-profit body, whose mission is to advance the idea that art, in all its forms, is inseparable and essential in education. The Foundation advocates the important role arts plays in learning, the enrichment of the mind, personal development and in the overall improvement of social, economic and cultural systems.

Katherine Quinn, wife of the late Anthony Quinn comments:
“London was one of Anthony’s favourite cities in the world and he would be honoured that his works are being showcased here”

Karina Phillips Director of Gallery Different states:
“When people first encounter the work, their reaction is often one of surprise that Anthony Quinn was a visual artist, quickly followed by admiration for the quality and variety of his work.”

Helen Macintyre, Managing Director at Macintyre Art Advisory remarks:
“This is a great opportunity for art collectors, scholars and those with an interest in Anthony Quinn to see – and have the opportunity to buy – artworks by this great actor”