A major exhibition in Paris is bringing together 40 original works by François Pompon, the renowned French sculptor best known worldwide for his polar bear sculptures. The Univers du Bronze gallery is hosting this landmark exhibition dedicated to the master of modern animal sculpture, accompanied by the publication of an unprecedented monograph by Norma Editions.
For many years, François Pompon's gentle name remained largely unknown to the public. The story of François Pompon (1855-1933) serves as a lesson in humility and perseverance. For two decades, this exceptional stone carver devoted his talent to serving other artists, including Alexandre Falguière, Camille Claudel, and most notably Auguste Rodin, whose workshop he directed from 1893 to 1896. Pompon polished marbles, carved "The Wave" in onyx, and executed commissions as a meticulous, discreet, almost invisible craftsman.
Everything changed when this Burgundy-born artist decided to dedicate himself to creating animal sculptures, inspired by his observations at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris and in Norman farmyards. In 1922, at the Salon d'Automne, his monumental 2.45-meter White Bear created a sensation, with the press calling it a "polar phenomenon." This triumph, though late in coming, finally placed Pompon on the pedestal he deserved as the leader of an innovative movement called the Group of Twelve.
Pompon advocated for purity, synthesis, and formal abstraction in animal sculpture. By elevating the essential volumes of living creatures, he opened a new path in this genre, which had long been confined to naturalism. This artistic philosophy forms the foundation of the current exhibition at Univers du Bronze gallery, which has successfully assembled 40 original pieces from all periods, including plasters, marbles, bronzes, terracottas, and ceramics.
Visitors are immediately captivated by a large Black Panther carved in Lens limestone around 1931. This unique piece, with more pronounced curves than the sculptor's other feline works, carries an emotional story: it appears in Pompon's portrait published in Paris-Soir on May 8, 1933, the very day his death was announced. Another feline treasure that immediately draws attention is a Black Panther in bronze with an antique green patina reminiscent of ancient sculptures. Cast in 1925 for Marguerite de Bayser-Gratry, a collector of ancient bronzes and sculptor herself, this exceptional casting represents the second proof of a model with only five or six known examples.
Pompon's mythical White Bear inevitably participates in this fabulous collection. Visitors can feast their eyes on a particularly rare version carved in Lens stone. Sculpted from the same material as the monumental example preserved at the Musée d'Orsay, this sculpture is one of only ten White Bear stones carved by Pompon's own hand, recognizable by their signature incised under the right rear paw.
Another impressive large-scale vision is a Grand Pouter Pigeon in ochre-tinted Carrara marble. This previously unknown piece from the collection of American architect Ernest Robert Graham represents the period when Pompon, encouraged by his friend Antoine Bourdelle, ventured into large formats following the success of his White Bear.
The exhibition also reveals more intimate and personal works, such as a plaster Wild Boar dedicated "to my friend Claudot." This serves as a reminder that behind the recognized master was a man faithful in friendship and generous with his art. As Pompon himself explained about his artistic process: "I make the animal with almost all the frills, and then, little by little, I eliminate so as to keep only what is essential."
Pompon maintained an unwavering faith in movement, following an unchanging creative process: observe the animal closely, note every detail, then move away about ten meters to capture its essence and line. According to the sculptor, "It is movement that creates form." Pompon walked a fine line where sculpture becomes pure suggestion.
The artistic results can be equally appreciated by browsing through the 416 pages and 800 illustrations of a new François Pompon monograph just published by Norma Editions. The book showcases polished surfaces, round volumes, and serene beauty that strikes at first glance. The result of several years of research conducted by Liliane Colas, a Pompon expert in the art market, and Côme Remy, this bilingual work refines our understanding of the sculptor.
The monograph features a comprehensive catalog of works edited and cast during Pompon's lifetime, enhanced with previously unpublished excerpts from his account books. This proves that for an artist, blooming late in life is not always a handicap – it can also allow one to largely transcend their era. The exhibition "François Pompon. Movement and Form" runs from October 20, 2025, to November 21, 2025, at Univers Du Bronze, located at 27 Rue de Penthièvre, 75008 Paris.
