Walenty Pytel
Encyclopedia
Walenty Pytel is a Polish
-born contemporary art
ist based in the United Kingdom
, recognised as a leading metal sculptor
of birds and beasts. His creations are often inspired by nature and his artworks include the Jubilee Fountain in Westminster
, a piece titled Take Off which is located at Birmingham Airport and Europe’s largest (in 1979) metalwork sculpture, The Fossor, at the headquarters of J. C. Bamford in Rocester
, Staffordshire
.
Take Off was erected at Birmingham Airport in 1985 and stands in a roundabout on the approach road to the airport. It is 1.4 m (4.6 ft) tall. The unpolished steel sculpture was designed to commemorate forty years of peace in Europe.
Pytel has created a number of sculptures for the town of Ross-on-Wye
, Herefordshire
including two prominently displayed on the banks of the River Wye
.
In 2001 Pytel completed a sculpture of a magpie
for the village of Weobley
in Herefordshire
(a magpie is the village's emblem). The sculpture was commissioned after the village won the Calor Gas/Daily Telegraph Great Britain Village of the Year in 1999.
In 2005 Pytel was commissioned to create four huge steel eagles for Portuguese
football
club Benfica, which would be displayed at their Stadium of Light. Measuring 147 feet (44.8 m) from wingtip to wingtip each bird had its own specially build 150 feet (45.7 m) column at each corner of the stadium.
In December 2008 the Hereford Times
reported that Pytel would design a sculpture for the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford
which he would create using an original drawing produced by a student at the college. At the time he was seeking inspiration to restart his career following a fall in 2006 which had resulted in a loss of memory
. The piece, depicting a man running in the Futurist
style and titled the 4Runner was unveiled in September 2009 and stands on a 14 feet (4.3 m) plinth outside the entrance of the college's sports and leisure complex.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
-born contemporary art
Contemporary art
Contemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time or art produced since World War II. The definition of the word contemporary would support the first view, but museums of contemporary art commonly define their collections as consisting of art produced...
ist based in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, recognised as a leading metal sculptor
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
of birds and beasts. His creations are often inspired by nature and his artworks include the Jubilee Fountain in Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
, a piece titled Take Off which is located at Birmingham Airport and Europe’s largest (in 1979) metalwork sculpture, The Fossor, at the headquarters of J. C. Bamford in Rocester
Rocester
Rocester is a village and civil parish in the East Staffordshire district of Staffordshire, England. Its name is spelt Rowcestre in the Domesday Book.-Geography:...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
.
Pytel has created a number of sculptures for the town of Ross-on-Wye
Ross-on-Wye
Ross-on-Wye is a small market town with a population of 10,089 in southeastern Herefordshire, England, located on the River Wye, and on the northern edge of the Forest of Dean.-History:...
, Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
including two prominently displayed on the banks of the River Wye
River Wye
The River Wye is the fifth-longest river in the UK and for parts of its length forms part of the border between England and Wales. It is important for nature conservation and recreation.-Description:...
.
In 2001 Pytel completed a sculpture of a magpie
Magpie
Magpies are passerine birds of the crow family, Corvidae.In Europe, "magpie" is often used by English speakers as a synonym for the European Magpie, as there are no other magpies in Europe outside Iberia...
for the village of Weobley
Weobley
Weobley is a black and white village in Herefordshire, England.The name possibly derives from 'Wibba's Ley', a ley being a woodland glade and Wibba being a local Saxon landowner...
in Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
(a magpie is the village's emblem). The sculpture was commissioned after the village won the Calor Gas/Daily Telegraph Great Britain Village of the Year in 1999.
In 2005 Pytel was commissioned to create four huge steel eagles for Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club Benfica, which would be displayed at their Stadium of Light. Measuring 147 feet (44.8 m) from wingtip to wingtip each bird had its own specially build 150 feet (45.7 m) column at each corner of the stadium.
In December 2008 the Hereford Times
Hereford Times
The Hereford Times is a weekly tabloid newspaper published every Thursday in Hereford, England. Its offices are based in Holmer Road. The editor is Fiona Phillips...
reported that Pytel would design a sculpture for the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford
Hereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
which he would create using an original drawing produced by a student at the college. At the time he was seeking inspiration to restart his career following a fall in 2006 which had resulted in a loss of memory
Amnesia
Amnesia is a condition in which one's memory is lost. The causes of amnesia have traditionally been divided into categories. Memory appears to be stored in several parts of the limbic system of the brain, and any condition that interferes with the function of this system can cause amnesia...
. The piece, depicting a man running in the Futurist
Futurism
Futurism was an artistic and social movement that originated in Italy in the early 20th century.Futurism or futurist may refer to:* Afrofuturism, an African-American and African diaspora subculture* Cubo-Futurism* Ego-Futurism...
style and titled the 4Runner was unveiled in September 2009 and stands on a 14 feet (4.3 m) plinth outside the entrance of the college's sports and leisure complex.