Eddy Maniez

Eddy Maniez was born in 1969 in Grasse, Alpes-Maritimes, France and resides in Normandy, France. A self-taught artist, Maniez's life-experiences have never diverted him from an artistic path. He begins his sculptural process with bas relief either in resin (larger works) or ceramic (smaller works). He then adorns each form with his signature silicone dollops and with genuine SWAROVSKI crystals. Maniez's works have been a major draw at international art festivals, including Context Art Miami 2019, Art Palm Springs 2020 and art galleries in Paris, Arcachon, Megève, Courchevel, Le Pyla sur Mer, Saint Tropez and Palm Springs, California.

Figurative sculptures mix reality and imagination, with the most common muse being the human body. Animals are also inspirations for these sculptures, along with forms found in nature.

While figurative sculpture dates back over 35,000 years, the term came into popularity in the 20th century to distinguish it from abstract art. It was aligned with the Expressionist movement in that many of its artists portrayed reality but in a nonnaturalistic and emotional way. In the 1940s, Alberto Giacometti — a Swiss-born artist who was interested in African art, Cubism and Surrealism — created now-iconic representational sculptures of the human figure, and after World War II, figurative sculpture as a movement continued to flourish in Europe.

Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon were some of the leading figurative artists during this period. Artists like Jeff Koons and Maurizio Cattelan propelled the evolution of figurative sculpture into the 21st century.

Figurative sculptures can be whimsical, uncanny and beautiful. Their materials range from stone and wood to metal and delicate ceramics. Even in smaller sizes, the sculptures make bold statements. A bronze sculpture by Salvador Dalí enhances a room; a statuesque bull by Jacques Owczarek depicts strength with its broad chest while its thin legs speak of fragility. Figurative sculptures allow viewers to see what is possible when life is reimagined.

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