Joan Gardy Artigas Abstract Ceramic Wall Sculpture

Designer: Joan Gardy Artigas
"Ovaline a la tache noire"
Spain - Circa 1981
Dimensions: 21.75" H x 25.25" W x 1.5" D
Condition: Excellent vintage condition.

Abstract modern ceramic wall sculpture by Joan-Gardy Artigas (b. 1938) titled "Ovaline a la tache noire" 1981. Artigas is a Catalan ceramist, artist and was a close collaborator with Joan Miró. This large ceramic sculpture is unglazed, incised and hand painted black and white. Measures: 21.75" H x 25.25" W. Signed by the artist en verso. Four black metal prongs support the wall sculpture as it hangs from a wooden cleat. Included with the sculpture is the original Eva Cohon Gallery exhibition catalogue from May 17-21 in 1982 and provenance certification from the gallery.

Artigas was born on 18 June 1938 in Boulogne-Billancourt and his father was Josep Llorens Artigas, who worked closely with Miró and Pablo Picasso. Artigas was able to work for Miró, while still a teenager, because of his father’s relationship with Miró. Artigas trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris where he met the Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti. Artigas established his own studio where at Giacometti’s suggestion he concentrated on sculpture. Artigas had some success and supplied his expertise to work with the cubists Georges Braque and Marc Chagall. When Artigas created the 7,200 tiles for the Miró Wall he colored the tiles based on an image which Miró had created. Using that scale model, he marked out each section on an individual 20 by 36 centimeter tile. The artwork includes the signatures of both artists. Artigas’ signature is dated 1979. Artigas was later called to return to assisting Miró when his father decided to retire. Artigas worked with Miró on Dona i Ocell, one of his last large works which was covered in broken tiles by Artigas. In this case the tiles remind the viewer of Gaudi’s work. In 1982 Antoni Tàpìes won the Gold Medal of Catalonia for a mosaic in the Plaça de Catalunya in Sant Boi de Llobregat. Artigas had constructed the ceramics for this prize winning exhibit. Artigas continued his own art and he was awarded his first solo exhibition in America in 1982 He has been a visiting artist at two American universities and he has founded a foundation to celebrate his father’s work. Gardy-Artigas serves on the board of the foundation Fundació Joan Miró in Barcelona.