Dumonteil Contemporary is pleased to introduce you to the most important monographic gallery exhibition of the work of Étienne-Martin since his death on 21 March 1995.
Huge sculptor, winner of the grand prize for sculpture at the 33rd Venice Biennale in 1966, including artists such as Julio Le Parc, Robert Jacobsen and Lucio Fontana, he was elected to the Academy of Fine Arts on 17 June 1970, Sculpture section to the V armchair now belonging to Jean-Michel Othoniel who paid him a vibrant tribute during his reception.
Étienne-Martin is considered by most to be France's greatest post-war sculptor during his lifetime, participating in documenta 5 in 1972, he has since been celebrated by the most prestigious institutions. Among these the Museum of Modern Art of the city of Paris through its permanent collections, the Centre Georges Pompidou which devoted a very important exhibition to him in 2010, followed in 2011 by an exhibition at the Musée de la Cohue in Vannes, but especially the major exhibition of the Museum of Fine Arts in Lyon in 2012 The Atelier of Etienne Martin. His work is also part of the permanent collections of international museums and foundations such as the Guggenheim, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, the Stedelijk Museum, the Gianadda Foundation and many more.
His work is marked by abstraction, expressionism and experimentation. His favourite materials are bronze and wood of different species. He also used fabrics and ropes, notably for Le Manteau (1962) which made the artist widely known and constituted the first fabric sculpture in the history of modern art. He creates a mixture of the genres of sculpture and architecture, which goes hand in hand with a taste for the monumental, especially in the second half of his artistic life.
From an intimate friendly relationship between Pierre Dumonteil and the artist, then today his Rights Holders, was born a desire to revive the exceptional work of Étienne-Martin among collectors and the general public.
This first exhibition, which will be followed by others both in France and abroad, is intended to be a synthetic look at the essential aspects of his work. Thematic exhibitions will then highlight its diversity.
Galerie Dumonteil Contemporary is therefore very honoured and happy to present in this month of October 2022, so rich in artistic events, an exhibition which will be one of the most important of the gallery season in Paris. More than 20 works, including several monumental ones, will be exhibited, representing an important part of the diversity of Étienne-Martin's work. This exhibition is the first step in the revival of the work of Étienne-Martinn.
Press release courtesy Dumonteil Contemporary.
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