William Gear

(1915 – 1997)

William Gear was an important contributor to the modern abstract movement throughout Europe and in the early 50’s joined the seminal avant-garde group of artists, CoBrA (which stood for Copenhagen, Brussels and Amsterdam). Spontaneity was their ethos and Gear exhibited with them but moved on to have a successful career in his own right. He became the curator of the Towner Gallery in Eastbourne and increased its reputation during his tenure from 1958-64. But he would never stop painting.