ROGER BONDUEL, rare abstract bronze sculpture

Roger Bonduel (1930-2019) was a leading figure in Belgium's post-war modernist and avant-garde art scene. He began his artistic journey with evening classes at the Academy in Tielt and later continued his studies at St. Lucas School in Ghent. During this time, he worked in his family's blacksmith shop in Tielt before eventually settling in St. Andries, Bruges. Though Bonduel started out as a painter, he gradually turned his focus toward sculpture, developing a passion for working with metals like iron and tin. His early creations were small figures that evolved into imaginative constructions of both human and animal forms, and eventually, he transitioned to more abstract work.

Bonduel was celebrated multiple times in Belgium and his works were featured in major exhibitions, including The Arts of Belgium 1920-1960 in New York and the World Expo in Montreal. He primarily worked with nickel, copper, steel, and bronze, with his artistic range spanning from figurative to fully abstract. His work is defined by a relentless pursuit of balance between technical precision and aesthetic beauty. Bonduel's creative collaborations with modernist architect Paul Felix and glass artist Michel Martens revolutionized church architecture in Belgium. Their partnership reached its peak with the creation of Bonduel's iconic home in 1959, a true reflection of his innovative spirit.