Nichola Theakston

''Still Rhino'', Contemporary Bronze Sculpture Portrait of a Rhinoceros

2020

After studying Fine Art in the Netherlands Ans Zondag (1959) spent several years abroad in order to explore different artistic areas and to establish which technique suited her best....

Nichola Theakston (1967) has established herself as one of the UK’s foremost contemporary sculptors working within the animal genre. With the ''Resting with Ancients' Nichola shows...

Working in a variety of scales and mainly to commission, Sara's work captures the spirit and form of people and animals. Many of them are inspired by mythology, nature or circus.

Signed bronze from small edition of 8. plus 4 artists proofs Dominik Albiński (born 1975, South Africa) Dominic Albinski, was born in South Africa, in 1975. He started sculpting, at a young age, at the Art Classes of Mercia Desmond, in Johannesburg. From the start, his talent for capturing movement, and character in his human, and animal figures was remarkable. Dominic had a happy childhood, spending his time in the studio, where he studied art and anatomy, which was later to become one of the major themes of his sculptures. He also spent a lot of time on the South African coast; Durban, North Coast and Cape, Plettenburg Bay and in the bush Kruger Park, Okovango Swamps, Chobe and Pilansberg game reserves. He was a good student, but preferred sculpting in his studio, among his artworks, than studying. After finishing High School (St John’s College), he left for Paris, to start a life of independence, in the French capital, famous for artists like Rodin, Bugatti, Carpeaux, Daumier, Giacometti, and Picasso, who inspired him. He was excepted into the prestigious Institute of Political Science. However, his passion for sculpture, made him choose sculpture as a career. He started studying sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, and with the British Sculptor, James Butler in England. Here, he learnt observation and techniques that would stand him in good stead later, when he came back to France, as a Professor of Communication at the renowned Ecole Francaise D’Attache de Presse near the Champs Elysees. He had his first major exhibition at the Arnaud Gallery in Verneuil sur Avre in Normandy. A collector, found interest in his work, and created a vast collection of his bronzes, as well as promoting Dominic in various galleries in the region of Normandy, and Touraine, such as Galerie 21 and Club de Arche de Noe, in Tours and Galerie des Remparts, and Eclat de Verre, in Le Mans. He also exhibited in La Rochelle in the Galerie Hourdin, and Bordeaux at the Galerie des Remparts. During this period he studied Literature at the Sorbonne. In Paris, several galleries took Dominic’s work, including Galerie Arcima, on Rue St Jaques, Galerie Herouet, in the Marais, Galerie Etienne de Causans on rue de Seine, or Galerie Mouvances, on Place des Vosges. Dominic participated in a wildlife exhibition in Trocadero Center, and at the Hotel de Ville of Puteux. His sculpture Madness, was chosen to be exhibited as a finalist at the Brain-Up competition, in the Palais de Congres. This impressive sculpture, measuring 1m 60 is in the collection of the Hospital in Lille, and the Mandela Collection in Sandton South Africa, among other collections. In Poland, he had an exhibition in the Canadian Embassy Residence, in the South African Embassy, and in the French Embassy. His work “Man with Pipe” is in the collection of the Canadian Ambassador. His work “Portrait of Agnes” was acquired by the South African Ambassador who, opened Dominic’s exhibition in the Jagellonian University in Krakow, Holiday Inn, and in Galeria Mokotow, in Warsaw. He had an exhibiton in the Warsaw Financial Center on Emili Platter Street, and in the Sculpture Gallery on Jana Pawla street. Later, he exhibited in the Gallery of the Polish War Museum on Krakowskie Przedmiescie, on Nowy Swiat 44, in the Center of Promotion of Culture, Mazowieckie Center of Culture and in the Jan Nowak Jezorianski Center. His work was showcased in the Napiorkowska Gallery, Zapiecek Gallery on the square of the Old Town in Warsaw, Hunters Gallery, and Warsaw Art Gallery in the Marriot Hotel, and sold on various Auctions, such as Rempex, Agra Art, and Polswiss. Back in South Africa, Dominic had much success among his native art galleries, having his first major exhibition at the Mandela Square Gallery, in Sandton. Art Galleries, hearing of his exhibitions in France, took his work, such as the Cherie de Villiers Gallery, in the Mall, in Rosebank, and the Van den Berg Gallery, in Potchefstroom. Dominic also took his work to the USA, where he exhibited at the Modern Show in New York, and at the Dauphin Descours Gallery on Madison Avenue, and the Yew Tree House Antiques Gallery in New York, as well as the Geary Gallery, in Darion, and the Lions Gallery...