André Sauzet

André Sauzet, born in 1945, is a French sculptor whose work is distinguished by his exploration of movement, balance, and lightness. Through his bronze sculptures, he brings to life figures with refined, minimalist forms, often inspired by the world of childhood, play, and acrobatics.

He began his artistic practice in 1965, creating sculptures from welded metal. Alongside his training in drawing, he experimented with various materials, including wood, stone, and terracotta, before turning to bronze, which gradually became his preferred medium.

In 1985, he established his own foundry at his studio in Château-d'Olonne, in the Vendée region of France, where he spent nearly twenty years perfecting the traditional lost-wax casting technique. This expertise allowed him to develop a personal approach to sculpture, combining traditional craftsmanship with creative freedom.

Movement at the Heart of Sculpture

From 1994 onwards, André Sauzet began developing his first kinetic sculptures, which became one of the defining features of his work.

His figures, characterised by simple yet expressive silhouettes, appear to defy the laws of gravity. Through a precise understanding of mechanical principles and balance, his sculptures can come to life with the slightest breeze, creating a delicate, almost hypnotic movement.

Dancers, jugglers, and acrobats take shape in compositions where lightness contrasts with the density of bronze. Each artwork explores the relationship between stability and movement, inviting viewers to experience sculpture from a different perspective.

A Distinctive Mastery of Bronze

Another defining aspect of André Sauzet's work lies in his treatment of materials. After casting his own sculptures for many years, he eventually entrusted this stage of production to a specialised foundry, allowing him to devote more time to the creative process.

He nevertheless continues to carry out the finishing, chiselling, and application of coloured patinas himself, giving his bronzes a distinctive appearance reminiscent of antique metal toys weathered by time.

This aesthetic, both raw and delicate, enhances the poetic and timeless character of his creations.

An Artistic Universe Between Poetry and Balance

Throughout his career, André Sauzet has exhibited his sculptures at numerous events, including the Salon des Artistes Français, the Salon d'Automne in Paris, and the Bois-Guilbert Sculpture Biennale. His works are also held in private collections in France and internationally.

Through his figures in motion, André Sauzet has developed an artistic universe filled with poetry, humour, and lightness, where sculpture becomes a true celebration of balance and imagination.