Ivan Theimer
Ivan Theimer (b. 1944, Olomouc, Czech Republic) is a contemporary artist renowned for his powerful, timeless bronze sculptures which he injects with symbolism and allegory. The contemporary sculptor’s works employ classical sculptural techniques while entering the present day. They are a nod to ancient works of art, yet do not appear to be antiquated. Rather, they are timeless, universal and allegorical. Although the works transmit a strong, majestic presence, the viewer is nonetheless invited to contemplate their most intricate details. Theimer has worked for over sixty years and can be considered to be one of the most well regarded makers of monumental and public sculptures.
Theimer graduated from the Ecole Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs of Uherské Hradišt in 1965. After moving to France in 1968 he received a scholarship to continue his art studies at Ecole des Beaux-arts in Paris. A year after, he participated in the Salon de la Jeune Sculture and won the I.A.T. prize. Theimer has exhibited all over Europe as well as in the USA. In 1973, he exhibited at the Biennale de Paris and represented France at the Venice Biennale in both 1978 and 1982.
Selected Exhibitions
Kunsthalle Bratislava, Bratislava; Galerie Bayart, Paris; 8th Paris Biennale; the Venice Biennale, Venice (1978 and 1982); FIAC 1985, Paris; Panorama Museum, Bad Frankenhausen; Centro Arti Visive Pescheria, Pesaro; CIAC – Centro Italiano Arte Contemporanea, Foligno; Muzeum Umeni Olomouc, Olomouc; CAPC – Musée d’art contemporain, Bordeaux; Centre d’art contemporain, Meymac; Galleria Goethe, Bolzano; Insa Gallery, Seoul; Galerie Claude Bernard, Paris.
Public Sculptures
Deux obélisques et une stèle végétale, Palais de l’Élysée,Paris, 1984-1988; History of the four Aymon sons, National Archives, Paris, 1987-88; The Human Rights Monument, Champ de Mars in Paris in 1989; Le monument à la mémoire de Jan Ámos Komenský (dit Comenius), Uherský Brod , Czech Republic,1992; Les quatre saisons, Place de la République, Poissy, France, 1995; Les portes de la vallée du Lay, A83 Nantes-Niort, France 1995; Allegoria del mare (Allegory of the Sea), Piazza del Popolo, Follonica, Italy, 1998; Monument à Jules Verne, Amiens, 2001; Fontaine d’Arion, Olomouc, Czech Republic,2002; Fontaine à la mémoire des morts pour la paix, Foligno, 2004; Autel, Cathedral of Massa Marittima,Italy, 2004-2007; Monument au vin, Place de la Victoire, Bordeaux, 2005; Mémorial de Dieulefit, Drôme, France, 2014.