A NEW solo exhibition featuring sculptures by Nicole Farhi will open at Beaux Arts Gallery, London this January. This announcement marks the beginning of a new series for Farhi, where she explores the beauty of the human figure, with particular focus on the unique curves and shapes formed as flesh folds on and around the female body. ‘Folds’ contains over 20 sculptures, marking this as one of Farhi’s largest solo exhibitions.
Nicole Farhi’s scultptural works: Ceres, 2018, Cybele, 2018 and Hebe, 2018
Each piece depicts a different section of her two subjects – Paola Barone and Lucian Freud’s former muse Sue Tilley – existing as a life-size abstract representation of the women bodies, cast immortally in Jesmonite or bronze.
Farhi was born in Nice in 1946, and moved to Paris in the early 1970’s as a freelancer. She then launched her eponymous fashion label Nicole Farhi, which at its peak had flagship stores in London, New York and Tokyo. She was awarded an honorary CBE for her contribution to British fashion over three decades, and in 2012 left her label to commit her creative energy solely to her sculptural works.
Nicole Farhi in her sculpting studio
Nicole Farhi says of her new series Folds, “The human form and the emotions it elicits has been an enduring theme in my sculptural work. Following my last exhibition focusing on the human hand, I wanted to continue looking at parts of the human body; this time exploring the powerful beauty of flesh, curves and the sexual energy large women have.”
Patricia Singh, Director of Beaux Arts, adds, “When we first met (Nicole) Farhi at her studio, we were blown away by the beauty and originality of her sculptures. Her exquisite portrayals of the female form – which are very different to those cast by the fashion industry – are both relevant and thought-provoking, and we feel very strongly that she has something new to say. We are delighted to be presenting Nicole’s new series at Beaux Arts for the first time.”
Beaux Arts has earned a reputation for exhibiting carefully selected Modern British and innovative, contemporary painters and sculptors – so Farhi’s works should feel right at home in this prestigious gallery.
by Lucy May McCracken
Folds will be on display at Beaux Arts, London, 48 Maddox Street from 31 January to 2 March 2019.