After training in classical sculpture in his native Poland, Piotr Gargas spent the early years of his career in Europe restoring and replicating the eroded and damaged stonework of historic buildings. An invitation to work in the colleges and churches of Oxfordshire led him to his studio on an industrial estate outside Witney, where he moved on to creating original work.
He designs digitally, making 3D prints that are translated into both figurative and abstract pieces sculpted from hewn blocks of stone and marble. ‘I try to make stone fluid and plastic — I am always chasing a form that suits my soul.’
Last year, Mr Gargas sold two large sculptures at the elegantly curated, biennial Kingham Lodge show, each displayed to advantage in the glorious five-acre garden. An abstract piece in cold cast bronze referenced the Gothic windows of the colleges he once worked in.
With his work partner, Martin Cash, Mr Gargas exhibits in the art gallery and sculpture garden at Burford Garden Company. In a glass case, two birds — one black, one white — face each other. ‘I was thinking about Black Lives Matter, although I don’t like to dictate these things.’ Each bird has a band of brass running through its chest. ‘Everyone has a heart,’ he muses.
www.piotrgargas3dsculpture.com
Credit: Paul Craig
How to transform the interiors of a derelict barn into a beautiful holiday let
Pippa Paton has artfully transformed the interiors of a Cotswold barn. Giles Kime takes a look.
In Focus — The Cotswolds silversmith: 'We make beautiful works of art to last for hundreds of years'
Tucked away in an old Cotswolds silk mill, expert craftsmen harness a century of expertise to raise, planish and finish
A Cotswolds cottage that shows just what's possible when architect, builder, craftsmen and owners come together in perfect harmony
The subtle remodelling and extension of an older cottage in the Cotswolds style by architect Robert Franklin is an exemplary
-
380 acres and 90 bedrooms on the £25m private island being sold by one of Britain's top music producersStormzy, Rihanna and the Rolling Stones are just a part of the story at Osea Island, a dot on the map in the seas off Essex.
-
'A delicious chance to step back in time and bask in the best of Britain': An insider's guide to The SeasonHere's how to navigate this summer's top events in style, from those who know best.
