Sculptor and innovator of a most unique medium... air

Ken began making inflatables in 1969 under the influence of the faculty at the University of New South Wales. His desire was to make monumental sculptures in preference to the architectural studies he had embarked upon.

The first adventure was with an old radio frequency welding machine and he began making clear plastic pop-art beach bags. These proved to be not very popular so he moved onto inflatable furniture and began selling a few pieces, but not as many as he would have liked.

However word got around and through the grapevine came commissions for theatre props, art installations and geodesic domes began to happen.

His interest has always been monumental realist sculpture and the first large commission and big break was a piece for "Save the Whales" in the 70's. He has since made inflatable sculptures of a vast variety of creatures for public events and promotions.

The ultimate moment is always the time that it is inflated for the first time. From a flaccid sac of folds, as the blowers fill its space, the form begins to swell as a lifeform emerging for the first time. His precise pattern making is most evident when watching his 2 giant cows inflate. The cows were huge with forelegs nearly a meter in diameter.

As they inflated they gave the impression of a calf getting to its legs for the first time. Up onto its hind legs first, then a few shudders and then slowly rising on its forelegs until its spaces were filled - and then standing proud for the very first time.

Lately, he has moved away from working with PVC coated fabrics and prefers kite cloth for its light weight and transparency.

Ken Beatty's inflatable sculptures are highly recommended by us the best that you will find. Much of the other examples seen around the world and especially in Australia are based on his innovations and the high standards that he maintains in his work. How do we know this? The majority of the scenic and graphic illustrations on Ken's sculptures was produced by our own art director and home artist, William Kent who has shared with Ken for many years a common belief that nothing is impossible. While Ken was developing his form techniques, William was finding the paints that would stay on the materials and developing the techniques for their use. The examples of inflatable art here stand as a monument to the early pioneering in this field.

Sydney - Australia

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© Ken Beatty 1969-1999