Alfred James Oakley

Born 13 March 1878
Died 28 April 1959

Active: 1911 - 1951

Country of birth and death: England

Sculptor, teacher, chair maker's apprentice

Born in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. He was the son of James Oakley (born c.1849 in High Wycombe), chair maker. Alfred was a chair maker’s apprentice before studying at the City & Guilds School (Lambeth School of Art) between 1903-8 and 1910. He was awarded the school's Modelling Scholarship of £50 over two years in 1908 (this covered the years 1909-10). Other students who won lesser prizes in the same year included William Reid Dick and Percy Apthorpe. Oakley may also have studied at Regent Street Polytechnic but this is unconfirmed.

During the First World War he served in the 5th (London) Field Ambulance (serial number 1825) and later worked on camouflage. (Oakley carved the memorial tablet to his Field Ambulance unit which is sited in St Alfege's Church, Greenwich.) Around 1922 he set up a studio in Parkhill Road, Hampstead. Oakley is said to have worked on London County Hall, as well as carrying out commissions for various architects and private clients. He taught sculpture during the 1930s but it is not known at which art school or school he was employed.

Over the course of his career Oakley showed work in Paris, Brussels, Venice and Buenos Aires. 'Mamua' c.1926 was purchased under the terms of the Chantrey Bequest and gifted to the Tate Gallery. In 1939 the Royal Society of British Sculptors awarded him a silver medal for 'The Gazelle' which was shown at the winter exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts. Among his commissions was a decorative panel and group for the liner, Queen Mary.

There are a number of his works in Wycombe Museum, including: 'Grapes' (exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1914); 'Fighting Fauns' (exhibited at the Paris Salon, Venice Biennale, 1928 and Royal Academy, 1929); 'Java' (exhibited at the Royal Academy, 1930, and Glasgow Institute of Fine Art); 'The Spanish Comb' (exhibited at the Royal Academy, 1932, and Glasgow Institute of Fine Art); 'County Life' (exhibited at the Royal Academy, 1934); and 'The Wrestlers' (awarded first prize in the Gilbert Garrett competition, date unknown but probably between 1922-1926).

During the Second World War Oakley's studio was bombed, ending his artistic activities for the time being. He did war work with Daimlers but was invalided out. Oakley then visited Prinknash Abbey, where one of his former pupils was now a Benedictine monk. He was attracted by the life of the monastic community and lived with the order, to whom he was known as 'Jim', for the remaining 18 years of his life. During this time, Oakley continued to make sculpture, some of which was shown at the Royal Academy, and until 1952 retained his connection to the Royal Society of British Sculptors. He also carried out a number of works for the community, other Benedictine houses and ecclesiastical settings. For example Oakley was commissioned to make a number of works for Pluscarden Abbey, Elgin, Morayshire, including a Madonna and Child, a Reredos, and possibly also a crucifix.

Between 1943-5 Oakley was received into the Catholic Church at Bigsweir, the order's overflow house. Then in 1947 he joined St Michael's Abbey at Farnham, which became an offshoot of the Benedictine community at Prinknash. He remained there until ill health resulted in his transfer to Newbury where he was cared for by the Sisters of Nazareth. He died in the District Hospital, Newbury, Berkshire.

This record includes information provided by Zara Luxford, Museum Manager, Wycombe Museum, see www.wycombe.gov.uk/museum; from the Annual Report of the South London Technical School of Art for 1908, p. 9; from Karen Pickett and the 'History of the 5th London Field Ambulance 47th (London) division T.F.', London, 1935;and by Fr. Giles Conacher OSB, including an obituary from 'Pax: the Quarterly Review of the Benedictines of Prinknash', Summer 1959, Vol. XLIX, no. 290, 'Community Notes' (Farnborough) pp. 74 - 76.

Wealth at death: £884 8s. 10d.
Probate date: 10 August 1959

Citing this record

'Alfred James Oakley', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=msib2_1220276782, accessed 23 Mar 2023]