THE FIGURE GUURRE RE
Introduction
Blake’s sculptures in The Figure collection explore truth, beauty and hope in the human form. The truth is in the vivid depictions of the human spirit in motion captured in timeless works of bronze and marble. The magnificence of Blake’s figures comes through his portrayal of youth in dynamic composition. In this collection, human desire and anticipation are captured in luminous marble and deep patinas of bronze. The result is a provocative study of the joy and sorrow of humanity with an emphasis on the ascetic experience for the viewer. The Figure sculptures are one-quarter life and life size works. Following the French tradition, each sculpture is available in a limited edition of twelve. The bronze is cast by Venturi Arte, a family foundry in Bologna, Italy. The marble is hand carved by craftsmen in Pietrasanta, Carrara, Italy. The result is work of the highest possible quality. Blake’s classic work evokes art-historical precedents from the ancient Greeks and Romans to 19th century French sculptors Dalou, Carpeaux and, of course, Rodin.
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Marble Torso 05 The Lovers 06 Lau in Marble 08 L’ Abandon 10 Death on a Pale Horse 12 Lora Marble 14 Flamenco 16 Metamorphosis of Medusa 18 Aurelia 20 Jennifer 22 L’ Enlevement de Proserpine 24 Ectasy 26 Vincent 28
Contents
Biography 30 Art and Method 30 Exhibitions 31
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Marble Torso
69 x 42 x 23 cm 1990
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Les Amoureux
100 x 51 x 40 cm 1999
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14 x 25 x 102 cm 2007
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Lau in Marble
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L’ Abandon
20 x 39 x 117 cm 2006
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Death on a Pale Horse
81 x 66 x 28 cm 1989
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Lora in Marble
115 x 31 x 68 cm 2006
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Flamenco
100 x 39 x 28 cm 2006
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Metamorphosis of Medusa 45 x 45 x 38 cm
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Aurelia 58 x 29 x 75 cm 2007
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Jennifer
83 x 36 x 20 cm
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L’Enlevement de Proserpine
93 x 75 x 34 cm 2006
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Ectasy
35 x 39 x 96 cm 2007
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Vincent
96 x 90 x 36 cm 1989
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Biography
Blake is a contemporary sculptor with a studio in Monte Carlo, Monaco. The artist Blake was born Blake William Ward in Yellowknife, North West Territories, Canada on June 3 1956 and raised in Edmonton. He received an Honours Degree in Fine Art from the University of Alberta in 1979. In 1985, he moved to Paris to study figurative sculpture. In 1991, Blake moved to Monaco and opened the Monte-Carlo studio. Art & Method Blake works in clay to produce bronze and marble sculpture that are cast or carved in Italy. There are over 80 different Blake sculptures that are categorized into one of three thematic groups. Traditional Figurative Blake sculpture explores notions of idealized beauty. The Fragments series of dis-figurative work is dedicated to the survivors of landmines, and the Re-Think collection is dedicated to the promotion of human rights.
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Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions 2010 Fragments, Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Center, Yellowknife, NT, Canada 2010 Burning Buddha, Video Installation, Meta House, Phnom Penh, Cambodia 2009 Re-think, DLC Gallery, New York, NY, USA 2009 The Figure, Rouge Gallery, Saskatoon, SK, Canada 2008 The Figure, Crystal Gallery, Fairmont Monte-Carlo, Monaco 2008 Fragments, Saint Ethelburga’s Cathedral, London, UK 2008 Fragments, Chelsea Arts Tower, New York, NY, USA 2008 Fragments, Canada House Gallery, London, UK 2007 Fragments, La Galleria, London, UK 2007 Fragments, Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury, UK 2007 Fragments, Cinema Verite, Monte-Carlo, Monaco 2007 Fragments, The Smithfield Gallery, London, UK 2007 Fragments, Haberdasher’s Hall, London, UK 2003 The Spirit and the Figure, Banque Gothard, Monte-Carlo, Monaco Group Exhibitions 2010 SOFA, Sante Fe, NM, USA 2010 The Figure, ArtMonaco’10, Monaco 2009 Une Celebration de l’Arte Canadienne, Domaine du Grand Cros, Carnoules, France 2009 New Motions of the Figure, ICO Gallery, New York, NY, USA 2009 Nude 2009, Lexington Art League, Lexington, KY, USA 2008 Point Art, GAM Gallery, Monte-Carlo, Monaco 2008 Weatherburn Gallery, Naples, Florida, USA 2002 Adam and Eve, Hotel de Paris, Monte-Carlo, Monaco 1997 Gildo Paster Centre Gallery, Fontvieille, Monaco 1996 The Portrait, Museum of Menton, Menton, France 1994 Skulpturenpark Herzogin Diane Altshausen Württemberg, Deutschland 1993 Galerie du Ruisseau, Paris, France 1993 Marie Ferrer Gallery, Winter Park, Florida, USA 1993 Festival Des Arts, Beaulieu-Sur-Mer, France 1992 Monaco Fine Arts, Monte-Carlo, Monaco 1989 Le Genie De La Bastille, Paris, France 1979 Graduation Exhibition, University of Alberta Art Gallery, Edmonton, AB, Canada 1975 The Canadian Arctic, Arctic Art Gallery, Yellowknife, NT, Canada Public Installations 2005 Faust Grimaldi Forum, L’Association des Amis de l’Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Monaco 2005 Breast Plate, Grimaldi Forum, Monaco 2000 L’Eveil, Place Du Moulins, Monte-Carlo, Monaco 1998 The Messenger, Fontvieille, Monaco 1995 1989 Emerging Continents, Fontvieille, Monaco 1995 The Bather Public Installation, Monaco 1994 Les Atlantes, Fontvieille, Monaco
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Blake 5 Rue des Violettes Monte-Carlo Monaco 98000 Telephone: + 1 30.62.92.96.48 E-mail: info@blakesculpture.com www.blakesculpture.com