Modernist Painter & Bold Colourist | 1915–1997

William Gear was a pioneering British abstract artist known for his striking use of bold colour, structured forms, and expressive compositions. 

William Gear

Emerging in the post-war European art scene, Gear became one of the few British artists to exhibit with the influential CoBrA group, embracing a raw, spontaneous energy that defied academic tradition.

Trained at Edinburgh College of Art and later in Paris under Fernand Léger, Gear developed a distinctive style that fused modernist discipline with emotional intensity. His abstract works often featured jagged, interlocking shapes and vibrant palettes, reflecting both architectural rhythm and organic movement. Gear played a vital role in bringing European modernism to the UK, both as an artist and curator.

As Towner Art Gallery’s curator and later as Head of Fine Art at Birmingham College of Art, he championed bold contemporary art and influenced generations of young British painters. Throughout his career, Gear’s work remained unapologetically abstract, challenging conservative tastes and pushing the boundaries of visual expression. Today, he is celebrated for his fearless innovation, his role in international modernism, and his enduring commitment to abstraction.