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Richard Erdman
Richard Erdman creates abstract sculpture of both intimate and monumental scale in stone and bronze from his studios in Williston, VT and Carrara, Italy. His art is known for its vitality, energy, and seemingly light buoyant motion, as if defying the material from which it is formed. The power and life the artist bestows in his work, both daring and subtle, conveys passion and strength, deeply engaging the viewer. The artist’s extensive body of work can be found in distinguished public and private collections in over 40 countries worldwide.
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Crescendo with Artist
Detail of Blu Fleur in-progress
Richard Erdman announces the commission of a new monumental work for Landau Fine Art of Montreal, Canada and Meggen, Switzerland. Landau Fine Art’s “Only Master Works” collection is highly regarded worldwide for their assemblage of great masters such as Picasso, Dubuffet, Giacometti and Moore, to name a few. Now, Richard Erdman will debut as one of their living artists, whose work will stand among the leading artists of the 20th century.
Landau Fine Art, founded by Robert Landau, opened in Montreal in 1987, and is world renowned for its extraordinary collection, exhibitions, and publications. It has long been considered a prominent high-reaching gallery with a solid presence on the world stage and a reputation for excellence - securing an exclusive, one-of-kind arsenal of master works. Robert Landau and his wife emigrated to Switzerland in 2012 and are opening a gallery in Meggen.
Landau Fine Art made a connection with Erdman’s work at the prestigious international art fair Art Basel in Miami, and the relationship between and Artist and Gallery has grown from there. Erdman has been commissioned to create a sculpture for the entrance of the new location in Meggen, which is due to open in the spring of this year. “It is a privilege to be working with Landau Fine Art,” says Erdman, “Landau is a discriminating dealer, and it is a great pleasure to know as an artist that he recognizes the merit of my work.” Landau Fine Art will represent Erdman’s sculpture internationally at such fine art fairs as Art Basel, Art Basel Miami, and TEFAF MAASTRICT.
The eight-foot sculpture, Sentinel, will be a bit of a departure for Richard, who is known for his sinuous, water and wave inspired forms. The curves he is most famous for, are taking a straighter path, quite literally. This piece will have an architectural leaning - it is vertical in nature and will stand as the sentinel to the Swiss Alps while also reflecting the placidity of nearby Lake Lucerne.
In the life and career as an artist, few things are more inspirational and exciting than the decision to experiment with a new and arduous material such as course-grained igneous rock. Richard Erdman announces a new commission in Brazilian Blue Granite, to be completed for the public collection of the Hunter Douglas Corporate office in Lucerne, Switzerland.
This exotic material is typically used within the context of simple, small-scale architectural projects, due to its high cost as well as the skilled artistry required to carve it. Erdman explains, “It’s an intimidating medium, but I had been circling it for years. Once the form for Blu Fleur, the title of the piece, had materialized, I knew that it could only be carved from Brazilian Blue Granite.”
Taking on this extraordinarily complex stone was bold, but to go as far as to create a sculpture eight feet in height from this material is positively audacious! Blu Fleur will be carved from a 12-ton block of Brazilian Blue Granite, and will be the largest sculpture in the world carved from this material, when complete. Erdman is no stranger to risky, monumental works - his sculpture Passage, found in the permanent collection of the Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens at PepsiCo, is the largest in the world carved from a single block of Italian Travertine.
Blu Fleur is elegant yet powerful; it emulates water bursting, a frozen stone arcing upward and outward, capturing the movement of water. Erdman is known world-wide for his sculptures that sit, appearing to float on water; Grande Eleos, Crescendo, andCuore Rosa are a few examples of the way in which he is able to unite stone upon water. “What I love about this piece is that it allows me the opportunity to move from marrying stone and water to creating a piece that actually emulates water. This piece feels more active, more alive, and the body of the Brazilian Blue Granite looks as though there is an active flow beneath its surface.”
Blu Fleur will be completed at the Artist’s studio in Carrara, Italy.
Featured Sculpture: Torre
Italian Bardiglio Marble / 6’3” H x 38” x 32”
Meet Richard Erdman Studios: Director Abbey Meaker (right) and Office Manager Audra Gonyea!
Commission in-progress at Richard Erdman’s Carrara, Italy studio.
Crescendo / Bardiglio Marble / 11’4” L / Parkside Remuda, Houston, TX
At Jeff Clarke’s studio photographing Richard Erdman’s new sculpture Cantilena.
To see more photos, click here.
Art News: When Bad is Good
Artworks that mimic soft porn, showcase embalmed animals, mock the Pope, and otherwise offend propriety are filling auctions, museums, and galleries. Is there anything left to be upset about?
Richard Erdman ” Passage” #sculpture (Taken with Instagram at Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens at PepsiCo)
22-minute profile by Emily Lau (History Channel, Discovery Channel)
An intimate view into the life of internationally acclaimed sculptor Richard Erdman, from his estate and studio in Northern Vermont, to the marble quarries of Carrara, Italy, where masters like Michelangelo and Donatello once sculpted.
Whether formed in stone or bronze, intimate or monumental, Erdman’s sculptures command full exploration, to see, touch and explore.
In addition to the profile, this DVD includes two special behind-the-scenes extras, Creative Process and Plaster Process which offers the viewer a rare look into the sculptor’s studio.
* Writer/Producer Emily Lau
* Editor Nick Termini
* Camera Nathan Beaman, Richard Erdman, and Thomas Williams
* Executive Producers Chris Davies and Luc Leestemaker
* Produced by Skylark Media Group, Inc. (2008)
Contact abbey@richarderdman.com to purchase a DVD
New marble sculpture by Richard Erdman. Fleur Blu will be on view at Galerie Artziwna in Vienna, Austria as part of an exhibition opening on October 21, 2012.
Sculpture of the week:
109”H x 26” x 21”
Persian Travertine
To see more photos, please visit our website.
