Big Bird at the Middelheim Museum

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André Willequet was born on January 3, 1921, in Brussels, Belgium. He spent his childhood in Luxembourg before moving back to Belgium to pursue a career as a sculptor. From 1940 to 1945, Willequet studied under the guidance of renowned sculptor Oscar Jespers at the prestigious Belgian Ecole Nationale Superieure des arts visuels - Ecole Nationale Superieure d'Architecture previously et des Arts Décoratifs in Brussels. In 1947, Willequet's talent earned him the second prize at the Prix de Rome award ceremony. This achievement paved the way for a trip to France, where he met influential artists Constantin Brancusi, Ossip Zadkine, and Henri Laurens. The encounter had a profound impact on his artistic style. From 1951 to 1952, Willequet further honed his skills at the Royal College of Art in London under the tutelage of sculptors Jacob Epstein and Henry Moore. This experience exposed him to new techniques and ideas that would shape his future work. In 1959, Willequet traveled to Florence and Rome, where he was invited to participate in the first European Sculpture Symposium St. Margarethen alongside Karl Prantl in Sankt Margarethen im Burgenland. This event marked a significant turning point in Willequet's career as his artistic style shifted from figurative representation to abstract art. Throughout his life, Willequet experimented with various materials, including wood, stone, bronze, and steel. His creations can be found throughout the region of Brussels, showcasing his innovative spirit and artistic vision. Willequet passed away on July 1, 1998, in Uccle, Belgium, leaving behind a legacy as one of Belgium's most accomplished sculptors. This digital archive is part of the "Scan The World" initiative. Scan the World is a non-profit project launched by MyMiniFactory to create a comprehensive digital repository of fully printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe for public access. Scan the World relies on community contributions; if you have interesting items you'd like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn more about how you can participate.