Leonardo Nierman (1932–2023) — Abstract Polished Bronze Sculpture on Wooden Base, 32" H, Signed, Chicago Provenance, Mexican Modernist

An original polished bronze abstract sculpture on wooden base by Leonardo Nierman (Mexico City, 1932–2023) — a major work at commanding scale by one of Mexico's most internationally celebrated modernist artists. Provenance: the collection of Martin Welfeld, Chicago. Condition: excellent.

Nierman's monumental works can be found in many of Mexico's major cities and abroad — in universities, concert halls, research centers, libraries, cultural centers, and public spaces in Canada, the United States, Ecuador, Lithuania, and beyond. His metal sculptures evoke movement and harmony, often making use of spirals, and frequently depict abstracted representations of birds, angels, flames, and musical instruments. His work is held in the permanent collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the Detroit Institute of Arts; the Indianapolis Museum of Art; the Art Institute of Chicago; and the Vatican Gallery, among dozens of others worldwide.

Polished bronze was among Nierman's signature sculptural materials — the reflective surface amplifying the sense of movement and light that defines his aesthetic. At 32" tall on its wooden base, this is a substantial and authoritative object, scaled for a significant interior space.

Nierman passed away on 7 June 2023 at the age of 90, weeks after this piece was acquired. The Chicago provenance — from the collection of Martin Welfeld — places this work in the city where some of Nierman's most prominent public sculptures are installed, including his landmark Flame of the Millennium at the Kennedy Expressway.

Details

• Artist: Leonardo Nierman (Mexican, 1932–2023)
• Medium: Polished bronze on wooden base
• Dimensions: 32" H (with base)
• Signed: Please refer to images
• Provenance: Martin Welfeld, Chicago
• Condition: Excellent

Auction provenance: New England Auctions, Branford CT, May 2023.