Armand Avril

Colourful Mixed Media Sculptural 'Montage' , Manau Tupapau. Hommage to Gaugin.

2004

Imposing and very large scale mixed media 'assemblage' by French artist Armand Avril. The work includes the French tricolour flag colours, his symbolic cat sculptures and a highly colourful geometric image of the artist's mother sitting in a chair. The work is signed and dated to the reverse and comes with a certificate of authenticity from the gallery. This montage fully demonstrates Avril's geometric period whilst also expressing the humour and joy that he puts into all his work. A very strong sculptural image and a feast for the eyes in searching for and recognising the everyday objects used in making this piece come alive. This montage is made from wood pieces, plywood, oil paint, acrylic, bottle top and nails . The more sculpted areas of the piece stand out up to 3cm from the frame. Armand Avril was born in 1926 in Lyon. His father, Marcel Avril was a painter and collector of African art. At 16 Armand became an apprentice shepherd in Provence. Avril could always be seen equipped with a sketchbook and a book on the history of art whilst tending his flock. It was not until the age of 30, in 1956, that Armand embarked on painting as an autodidact, influenced by Raoul Dufy, Pierre Bonnard, Henri Matisse and the Lyonnaise School of Painting. He exhibited for the first time in 1957. In 1960, he left for a one-year trip to Africa. There he met the painter Jean Arène who introduced him to the village of Cotignac in the Var and to Louis Pons...

Imposing and very large scale mixed media 'assemblage' by French artist Armand Avril. The work includes the French tricolour flag, figures and heads in various poses, his symbolic cat sculptures and large stylised poppies. The work is not signed but comes with a certificate of authenticity from the artist. This montage fully demonstrates Avril's inspiration drawn from tribal art whilst also expressing the humour and joy that he puts into all his work. A very strong sculptural image and a feast for the eyes in searching for and recognising the everyday objects used in making this piece come alive. This montage is made from wood pieces, bottle tops, string, paint, cork, nails buttons, clothes pegs and netting. The more sculpted areas of the piece stand out up to 4cm from the frame. Armand Avril was born in 1926 in Lyon. His father, Marcel Avril was a painter and collector of African art. At 16 Armand became an apprentice shepherd in Provence. Avril could always be seen equipped with a sketchbook and a book on the history of art whilst tending his flock. It was not until the age of 30, in 1956, that Armand embarked on painting as an autodidact, influenced by Raoul Dufy, Pierre Bonnard, Henri Matisse and the Lyonnaise School of Painting. He exhibited for the first time in 1957. In 1960, he left for a one-year trip to Africa. There he met the painter Jean Arène who introduced him to the village of Cotignac in the Var and to Louis Pons...

Mid 20th Century sgraffito work on plaster by Jean Pierre de Cayeux. The work is signed and dated on the skirt of the card player, bottom right, and on the stretcher of the chair, bo...

Early 20th century zoomorphic African puppet head sculpture from the Bozo tribe in Mali. This puppet head would have been used by the Bozo ethnic group during the Sogobo ceremony. This ancestral tradition continues in the region of Segou in Mali along the Niger river. It is an opportunity to regroup the different villages and give rise to musical and theatrical performances whose highlight is the puppet show...

Native North American carved wood and painted effigy figure, Hopi Katsina or Kachina doll. This is one of a group of eight dolls all individually priced, or available as a set, and ...

A large scale and beautifully carved wooden ceremonial mask from Cameroon. There are traces of colour and decoration to the surface and the mask has a magnificent patina giving it a wonderful presence as a sculptural object. The Batcham Mask or simply the Batcham originated in western Cameroon although its name refers to the place where it was first found: Batcham. This is a ceremonial mask from the Bamileke culture in the western Grasslands of Cameroon. This tall crest (76 cm in height) has clearly defined features, a powerful yet calm visage, sharply chiselled diamond and triangular furrows, and nearly perfect symmetry. Such painstaking craftsmanship underscores the sophistication and control of the sculptor in preparing this ceremonial piece. It shares the elements of Batcham masks including: The general morphology is built on two axes: a symmetrical vertical axis with chiseled furrows, stylized eyes, lips, nostrils, mouth and teeth; a horizontal axis presenting swollen cheeks, an ovular mouth showing multiple teeth, and triangular ears supported on a hollow cylindrical base. One interpretation is that the masks depict a hippopotamus emerging from watery depths, conveying nature’s power conferred to enthroned royalty. The Batcham mask represents the pi, or double animal of a great dignitary of the kingdom. It was used by a great dignitary of the Msop society who intervened only on rare occasions: during the funeral and enthronement of the king and the nine notables, and to perform the Royal Tso dance, elephant dance...

Bridge To Total Freedom No.3 (Diminishing Returns) (2017) by Gary Sczerbaniewicz. Wood, laser-cut MDF, cast plastic, plaster, ink, acrylic, paper.

Russell Targ (2018) by Gary Sczerbaniewicz. Wood, laser-cut MDF, acrylic, ink.

Call Me By My Name is a fine art wall relief collage by mixed media artist Angelica Bergamini. Deep blue printed foliage extends from a square wooden can...

Mark Wallinger It's the Thought that Counts, 2001 Mixed media Christmas cracker, colored paper/ cardboard and ribbon with snap Plate signed by Mark W...

"Kara" is a beautiful contemporary sculpture created by the Canadian artist Yulia Shtern. Her work depicts beautifully decaying remnants of species on our planet that are currently endangered. Shtern utilizes common household materials such as produce netting and colored cardboards in her up-cycled process to authenticate her message. An unfortunate truth of our current society that is often forgotten. Shtern creates these beautiful pieces to draw the viewer in and force them to engage with reality head-on. This work is eye-catching with a delicate texture and vibrant colors and would brighten up any room. Artist's Inspiration: "Black Pakistan Cobra (Naja naja karachiensis) is considered by some to be one of the subspecies of Indian cobra...

"Lulu" is a beautiful contemporary sculpture created by the Canadian artist Yulia Shtern. Her work depicts beautifully decaying remnants of species on our planet that are currently endangered. Shtern utilizes common household materials such as produce netting and colored cardboards in her up-cycled process to authenticate her message. An unfortunate truth of our current society that is often forgotten. Shtern creates these beautiful pieces to draw the viewer in and force them to engage with reality head-on. This work is eye-catching with a delicate texture and vibrant colors and would brighten up any room. Artist's Inspiration: "Saudi Gazelle was native to the northern and western parts of the Arabian peninsula, preferring rocky habitats with shrubs and acacia trees. It lived alongside Mountain Gazelle and Arabian Sand Gazelle. The populations of these other two gazelle species of the Arabian peninsula have been severely diminished over the last few decades, and they both are classified as vulnerable. Gazelles were some of the most frequently depicted animals in the Neolithic art...