Jean-Robert Ipousteguy, a renowned French painter and sculptor, passed away on February 8, 2006 in Dun-sur-Meuse, his birthplace. Born on January 6, 1920, he adopted Ipousteguy as his artist’s pseudonym in the 1950s, taking his mother’s maiden name. Raised in Lorraine, he made the move to Paris in 1938. Seeking to hone his craft, Ipousteguy attended evening classes at the Robert Lesbo Unit, where he studied painting and drawing. Although he lacked formal academic training, his determination led him to become a self-taught artist, albeit largely underappreciated during his lifetime.
Following World War II, Ipousteguy immersed himself in painting and ventured into designing stained glass windows. In 1947 and 1948, he contributed two frescoes to the embellishment of the Saint-Jacques le Majeur in Montrouge. After relocating to Choisy-le-Roi in 1949, he shifted his focus exclusively towards sculpture, gradually transitioning from abstraction to a more figurative style influenced by surrealism. His talent as a sculptor earned him an invitation to participate in the prestigious Salon de Mai, thanks to the support of Henri-Georges Adam, one of its founding members.
In 1962, Ipousteguy held his first exhibition at the Galerie Claude Bernard in Paris, marking a significant milestone in his artistic career. He went on to showcase his works at Documenta III (1964) and Documenta VI (1977) in Kassel, Germany. Additionally, in 1964, he had the privilege of representing France at the Venice Biennale, where he received accolades for his exceptional artistic contributions. Recognition continued to pour in, as he was appointed Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur in 1984.
Ipousteguy returned to his hometown of Dun-sur-Meuse in 2004, where he spent the final years of his life. His remarkable artistic journey came to an end in 2006, and he was laid to rest at the Cimetiere Montparnasse in Paris.
www.ftn-books.com has the Vweranneman and other catalogs on the artist now available.
