Cheval (2012) Sculpture by Frédérique Maillart

Frédérique Maillart is a distinguished French sculptor from a family deeply rooted in the arts. Her great-grandfather, Diogène Maillart, won the prestigious Grand Prix de Rome in painting, and her father, a renowned portrait painter, introduced her to sculpture. Immersed in this rich artistic heritage, Frédérique enrolled at the prestigious École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris at the age of 17, where she studied in the studio of Raymond Corbin, a sculptor, medal engraver, and member of the Académie Française.

Her career took her to the Casa Velázquez in Spain and later to Palma de Mallorca, where her artistic training continued to evolve. After completing her studies, she settled in the South of France, where she gained prominence, particularly with her monumental fountain commissioned for Seyne-les-Alpes. Frédérique has since received numerous awards, participated in many exhibitions in France and abroad, and undertaken prestigious commissions. One of her notable works is the Sainte Marie-Madeleine, currently exhibited at the Jardin des Cinq Sens et des Formes Premières in St Marc-Jaumegarde, near Aix-en-Provence.

Frédérique Maillart's work is characterized by a mastery of materials such as stone, wood, and bronze. Her technical prowess, combined with her physical approach to sculpture, allows her to intertwine these materials seamlessly. Her academic background and exceptional talent are evident in her sketches, which not only showcase her fine line quality but also provide insight into the monumental nature of her sculptures. Through these drawings, one can appreciate the vigor, creativity, and volume that define her sculptures.

Drawing inspiration from the power of Nature, Frédérique’s materials are carefully chosen to reflect the tension between the physical and the spiritual. Her work, often of a sacred nature, seeks to restore the divine dimension to an art form increasingly neglected in contemporary times.