Biography of Pollès

The history of Pollès is perhaps a familiar story. Born and raised in Paris, Pollès was in medical school, primarily to please his parents, but his passion was not there. In his last year, against the will of his father, Pollès left medical school and soon after left Paris and moved to Pietrasanta, Italy. Why Pietrasanta?

His passion had always been art, and sculpture was the venue that most interested him. Pietrasanta is the center of sculpture in the world. The finest marble is available in Cararra and other nearby quarries. He soon purchased an old winery and made his home in Pietrasanta. In this space, over time, he built his own foundry. He is the only sculptor in the world who does everything from designing the piece to executing the making of the bronze work himself (with a crew of 2 or 3 to help). He is a sculptor's sculptor. A man to himself who dreams of his creations and executes them himself in what has become his unique cubist style. In addition, he has invented a machine that allows him to create his sculpture, in perfect proportion, to whatever size he dictates to the machine. This is patented and is singular and unique to Pollès.

His love of women, the sensuality, the complexity, the shapes and passions, brought him to create the female form. From the beginning he created a singularly stylized cubist form which has become his signature. All are cast in bronze by Pollès himself and made in a series of three with one artist's proof. His master of the petina is considered unparalleled. The world's recognition of his craft is evidenced by the many awards he has won, the unique places he has shown and the prestigious private collections he is in, including that of Princess Caroline of Monaco. Pollès was recently honored in an exhibition outside Paris, sponsored by the French Government, called “Sculptors From Rodin to The Present”. He was one of the few living sculptors to be so honored, the others include Abakanowicz, Arman, Saint-Phalle & Wesselmann. Morris Rheims, a respected Art Critic, and a member of The French Academy, has said “I consider Pollès to be one of the outstanding sculptors of our time.” His show in the Bagatelle Gardens in Paris in 1998 was a major honor as he was one of only two artists who have ever been allowed to present their work in the Bagatelle. The other artist is Henry Moore.

Donald Weiss, October, 2001

History of Pollès and Achievements

1945 Pollès is born in Paris, France.

1964 Begins Medical School in Paris and simultaneously starts taking courses at the Academie Charpentier.

1966 Accepted to participate in a juried art show at l'Ecole desBeaux-Arts de Paris with his painting. He abandons medical school.

1967 While staying in London Pollès meets Italian sculptor Enzo Plazzotta who instructs him on the basics of sculpting. He sculpts his first work from a live model.

1970 He decides to move to Pietrasanta, Italy - the center for fine marble and sculpting in the world.

1972 Pollès is now earning his living as a painter, but his passion remains sculpting. He learns how to weld and begins working with the Da Prato Brothers Foundry.

1973 His sculptures begin to sell to Americans & Europeans.

1974 Pollès begins to construct an electronic and mechanical pantagraphe which allows him to increase the size of his sculptures automatically.

1976 Entered in E. Benezit's Critical and Documentary Dictionary - Peintes et Sculpteurs, Vol 8. 1978 Pollès conceives of an entirely electronic and automatic method to create his sculptures in any size.

1980 Pollès receive the Prix Pascas Bigel at the Musee Rodin, Paris.

1987 Acquisition of “Grande Ogive” by Musee Champredon,France.

1994 Pollès obtains a patent for his pantographe which allows him to create the “mold” for his sculptures in any size. He is the only artist in the world to have such a patent.

1997 He receives first prize from the Florence Gould Foundation at an exhibit organized by Prince Pierre of the Monaco Foundation.

Pollès' Art is Owned by the Following Collections in addition to many others who have asked to remain anonomyous:

Silvio Burlusconi - Prime Minister of Italy

Musee Campredon - France

Club de l'Amiraute - Deuaville, France

Contemporary Sculpture Center - Tokyo, Japan

Cuban Museum of Art & Culture - Miami, Florida, USA

Gallery Donald Weiss - New York City, N.Y.

Mark Hachem - Paris, France

Musee Rodin - Paris, France

Museo d'Arte Moderna - Milan, Italy

Museo Dell Avanguardie - Rocca di Angera, Italy

Princess Caroline of Monaco

Kathleen Turner - USA

 

Note: To review the works of Pollès on line, go to Galerie-MarkHM.com - Galerie Mark Hachem, Paris, France

Pollès Shows & Exhibitions

2004
Galerie Bernheim-Jeune, Paris

Galerie Mark Hachem, Paris

Palm Beach Contemporary

2003
Gallery Kasha Hildebrand, N.Y.C

Art Design Fair, N.Y.C.

Palm Beach Contemporary Show

2002
Amiraute Club, Private Collection, Deauville, France

Galerie Mark Hachem, Paris

Art Palm Beach

The Fall Art Fair, N.Y.C.

2001
Exhibition: Sculptures From Rodin To The Present , Donjon de Ves, France

Gallery Donald Weiss - Sugar Hill Art Center, NYC

2000
Galerie Bernheim-Jeune, Paris, France

International Art Project (Invitational), Vacover, Canada

Art Miami, Miami, Florida

Art Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Florida

Galerie Mark HACHEM, Paris, France

1999
Galerie Bernheim-Jeune, Paris, France

Art Miami, Miami Florida

EDF Paatronage, Toulouse, France

1998
Polistampa Art Fair, Florence, Italy

Issoire Cultural Center, Issoire, France

Bagatelle Orangerie, Paris, France

1997
Prince Pierre de Monaco Foiundation, Monaco First Pirze

1996
Galerie Daniel Besseiche, Deauville, France

Private Collection, Amiraute Golf Club Trouville, France

1995
Hotel-de-Ville Brussels, Belgium

Galerie Bernheim-Jeune, Paris, France

1994
Despiau-Wlerick Museum, Mont-de-Marsan, France

Museum of Vero Beach, Vero Beach, Florida

Galerie Anne Apesteguy, Deauville, France

Galerie Bernheim-Jeune, Paris, France

Chateau de Vascouil: 25 Years of Contemporary Art , France

1993
Trianon Palace, Versailles, France

Hotel-de-Ville Courbevoie, France

1992
Galerie Roswitha Benkert, Zurich, Switzerland

Galerie Bernheim-Jeune, Paris, France

Paris Country Club Rueil-Malma Son, France

Galerie Le Carre, Lille, France

1991
Carneles Palace, Municipal Museum of Menton, France Galerie Suzanne Tarazieve, Barbizon, France

Courbevoie Art Biennial, Courbevoie, France

1990
March Salon, Bernheim-Jeune, Paris, France

Galerie Suzanne Tarazieve Barbizon, France

Galerie Couleur du Temps, Geneva, Switzerland

Vaux-de-Cernay Abbay, Cernay-la-Ville, France

1989
Palace Esterhazy, Vienna, Austria

Basel International Art Fair, Basel, Switzerland