Stephan Balkenhol new bronze sculptures released in 2026

Description

Karlsruhe, Nuremberg, Kitzbühel, April 2026 The titles of the sculptures are "Man with White Shirt and Black Trousers 2026" and "Venus 2026". Both are 68 cm tall and have been produced in an edition of 30 copies. Man with White Shirt and Black Trousers 2026 is a hand-painted bronze sculpture, signed and numbered on the base. Venus is also signed, of course. While one sculpture depicts the typical Balkenhol man with black trousers and a white shirt, this time with folded hands, the second bronze shows a young woman with a white skirt and black blouse. The two works can be displayed as a couple, with the contrast of the contrasting clothing black/white standing out particularly beautifully. Stephan Balkenhol is one of the most important contemporary German sculptors. He is known for his figures carved from wood trunks, painted in color, often interpreted as "everyman" representations. Stephan Balkenhol will turn 70 in 2027. The human being is at the center of Stephan Balkenhol's work. Mostly, he is alone, but sometimes accompanied by animals or architectural elements. The figures we encounter in his roughly carved and painted wooden or bronze sculptures are anonymous, reserved, and emotionless. A man in black trousers and a white shirt is bound to a sphere, which upon closer inspection represents a globe. A distorted image, imagination? Balkenhol captures unobtrusive moments. The people he depicts are completely absorbed in themselves. They appear relaxed, unbiased, and distant. Although their gaze is directed at us, it often seems empty. This enhances their mysterious enigmatic quality. When Balkenhol studied at the Hamburg University of Fine Arts under Ulrich Rückriem and Sigmar Polke, his figurative compositions contrasted with the prevailing abstract and conceptual art. His works are not portraits in the strict sense: they do not depict a specific person, nor are they signs or symbols for people. Balkenhol's use of wood, bronze, and traditional carving methods creates a direct, tactile connection between the viewer and the figure. His style, often described as a return to figurative sculpture in contemporary art, is known for its raw, almost unfinished texture. This rawness enhances the sense of humanity of the figure. Despite his limited position, the man remains comprehensible, imperfect, and very lively in his silent endurance. Stephan Balkenhol has had numerous exhibitions in Germany and Europe. The sculpture "Teddybear" was already presented at Frank Fluegel Gallery in 2025. Sculptures by Stephan Balkenhol are also to be seen at Art Cologne Palma de Mallorca in April 2026. The sculptures are made of bronze, an alloy of copper and other metals (especially tin), used since antiquity. An ideal metal for high-quality art castings that will last for thousands of years. In bronze casting, the artist usually uses a process over 5000 years old, the lost-wax process with a lost mold. It is the best but also the most elaborate method for making sculptures. First, the artist creates a model of his sculpture. This is then embedded in a liquid silicone rubber mold. Once the material has solidified, the model is cut out. Liquid wax is poured into the resulting negative mold. After cooling, the wax cast is removed from the mold, fitted with casting channels, and dipped into a ceramic slurry. The ceramic slurry is hardened in a kiln, and the wax flows out (lost form). Now, the negative mold is finally available, into which the molten bronze is poured at about 1400°C. After the bronze cools, the ceramic shell is broken, and the sculpture emerges. The casting channels are then removed, and the surfaces are polished, patinated, and numbered by the artist or a specialist according to his specifications. This way, each cast becomes an original. For inferior bronze casts, the sand bed process is often used, but its surface quality and durability do not match the more elaborate lost-wax process. Frank Fluegel Gallery, with locations in Nuremberg and Kitzbühel, has been focused for twenty-five years on high-quality originals of pop art, street art, and contemporary art. The art collector can find artworks, graphics, and unique pieces by trendy and emerging artists such as Adam Handler, Katherine Bernhardt, Sol Felpeto, Jon Burgerman, Alex Katz, David Shrigley, Kenny Scharf, Hunt Slonem, Orit Fuchs, Nathan Paddison, Fanny Brodar, or Julian Opie at market prices. Original editions and paintings by highly sought-after and valuable artists like Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Harland Miller, Tom Wesselmann, Sean Scully, Gerhard Richter, Ross Bleckner, Allen Jones, Thomas Ruff, or Mel Bochner are also available. Artists popular among collectors worldwide, such as David Gerstein, Peter Doig, Jeff Koons, George Condo, Willem De Kooning, Salvatore Emblema, Tanya Ling, Gabriele Münter, Gerhard Richter, Stefan Rinck, Kuldeep Singh, Günther Uecker, Tracey Emin, Raqib Shaw, Derrick Adams, and Robert Longo, are also part of the gallery's portfolio. Exhibitions and shows are regularly held in the centrally located gallery spaces in Nuremberg and Kitzbühel. Frank Fluegel Gallery - The Art of Reinventing Value. The unique online shop allows collectors to purchase artworks around the clock. International trade fair participations and solo shows round off the program of the renowned gallery. The rapidly growing street art segment is excellently complemented by successful artists like Mr. Brainwash (Thierry Guetta), XOOOOX, Punk Me Tender, Fringe the Artist, Max Mavior, or John Crash Matos. The owner-managed gallery also offers design objects, pictures, and vintage furniture by Maurizio Cattelan, Paul Smith, Richard Orlinski, or Pierre Jeanerette for purchase. The gallery has been successfully selling trendy artists worldwide for 25 years. Customers of the gallery are located in London, New York, and Singapore, but also in Dubai, Lima, and Miami. Many of the artworks offered can be purchased and taken immediately upon visit, as they are in stock. Due to high demand, some artists' works are expected to increase in price. Artworks are rising in value and have experienced solid appreciation over the years. Source: thurgaukultur. ch - the cultural portal for Thurgau, with dates, topics & people making headlines.