SCULPTOR PASCAL PIERME Celebrates 20 Years in Santa Fe
S
anta Fe is like a grandmother with a teenage heart who helped me to find my path. There is so much history here; it definitely feels like beautiful grandmother. But even though it’s old, it has this energy and sparkle you may not see right away—but you can feel it,” says Pierme of his adopted home. “
By Elaine Ritchel Photos Caitlin Elizabeth
This summer marks a special occasion for one of GF Contemporary’s most celebrated and collected artists, Pascal Pierme. Twenty years ago, the French sculptor found himself in Santa Fe and made it his new home. After starting his artistic career in his native France, Pierme chose Santa Fe over New York or Los Angeles not just for its thriving art economy, but also for its unique magic.
It wasn’t long before the sculptor had carved a niche for himself locally. While Pierme’s work is often inspired by the local landscape—you’ll see it in the earthy pigments and raw materials he uses—it transcends geographic and conceptual specificity. Pairing sleek abstract forms to show subtle movement and life, Pierme aims to juxtapose “a human intelligence with the organic.” Wood, itself an organic, living material, is his medium of choice, and one to which he feels a personal connection. “I think what I like about wood is that you can’t control it 100 percent, unlike steel, bronze or glass,” explains Pierme. “Wood is going to speak to you and give you a little bit of direction, because the wood has its own character.” Working with wood runs in his family; Pierme’s grandfather was a wood craftsman, and he remembers visiting his studio as a child. Interestingly, Pierme didn’t start out working with wood himself, but rather with concrete, glass, wax, resin, gold and other metals,
thanks to his first job as a dental technician. “I didn’t care for the work, but I liked the process. The technique of molding is extremely precise,” muses Pierme. “And then one day I found a nice piece of juniper, I started to work on it, and kept going.” That simple decision to pick up a piece of wood and just start working is what propelled Pierme into his incredibly successful artistic career. His work has been included in over 120 exhibitions, 80 of which were solo shows, and can be found in public and private collections all over the world. It’s been a fruitful 20 years
in Santa Fe, and Pierme has no intentions of slowing down. To celebrate, GF Contemporary is hosting a special artist reception on August 12th from 5 to 7 p.m., and will feature Pierme’s signature work in wood, as well as a rare selection of large-scale steel sculptures. Don’t miss this opportunity to view the breadth of Pierme’s work and to celebrate with the artist himself. GF Contemporary 707 Canyon Rd. 505.983.3707 www.gfcontemporary.com