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Firmin Sanou · Burkina Faso

Bronze,
the language of the soul.

Burkinabé sculptor and founder. From his Bobo Dioulasso workshop to artist residencies in French Guiana, Firmin Sanou brings wax, clay and fire together to give shape to memory.

Bobo Dioulasso Bronze · Lost-wax Since 2003
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Portrait de Firmin Sanou
About Firmin

The child who played with clay

“As a child you play with clay, and as you grow, you create.”

Born in 1982 in Bolomakoté (Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso), Firmin Sanou left school at 14 to learn sculpture alongside master founder Kader Derme. Ten years of apprenticeship shaped his hand and eye. In 2011 he founded his own workshop in Bobo Dioulasso, where he now trains young apprentices and welcomes artists from around the world to discover bronze and lost-wax casting.

1982Born in Bobo Dioulasso
10 ansOf training
20+Years of work
Read the full journey
The technique

Lost-wax, a millennial gesture

To witness a bronze pour is a privileged moment, like an incursion into the realm of the Gods.

01

Wax modeling

The artist sculpts a model in beeswax, translating the idea into volume with precision.

02

Clay mold

The wax is wrapped in three successive clay layers that dry to form the mold.

03

Dewaxing & pouring

The heated mold releases the wax; molten bronze at 1800° fills its exact place.

04

Finishing

Breaking the mold reveals the piece. Sanding, chiseling and patina give it its final face.

Full technique
La transformation

De la matière au bronze

Glisse le curseur pour découvrir comment une sculpture brute, sombre et martelée, devient une œuvre finie en bronze doré poli.

Sculpture brute, non finie Sculpture finie en bronze doré Brut · patine sombre Fini · bronze doré
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Dans l'atelier

Le geste, en coulisses

Du four artisanal à la finition d'une pièce, l'envers du décor d'une coulée de bronze.

Firmin au four
Coulée de bronze
Le four en construction
Finishing
Fonte aluminium
Restitution publique
Gallery

A selection of works

Bronze sculptures cast in lost-wax. More than a decade of gestures, patinas and stories.

Le Musicien

Le Musicien

2010 · 60 cm
La Noblesse

La Noblesse

2010 · 45 cm
Le Bagnard

Le Bagnard

2018
Le Penseur

Le Penseur

2012 · 30 cm
Bracelets

Bracelets

2012 · 35 cm
La Maripa et l'Amérindien

La Maripa et l'Amérindien

2020 · Guyane
La Famille

La Famille

2012 · 30 cm
Les Lutteurs

Les Lutteurs

2017 · 40 cm
La Femme dans toute sa Splendeur

La Femme dans toute sa Splendeur

2019
View all works
Exhibitions

From one continent to another

From Bobo Dioulasso to French Guiana, through Vallauris, Bordeaux and Paris, the sculptures travel and bear witness.

D'Un Monde à l'Autre
October 2023

D'Un Monde à l'Autre

Vallauris, France

Exhibition in Vallauris, historic city of ceramics and sculpture.

Origines Bordeaux
September 2022

Origines — Bordeaux

Bordeaux, France

Sculptures on the theme of African roots and cultural heritage.

Farafina Lili
October 2021

Farafina Lili

France

Highlighting African culture through bronze.

Territoires

Trois continents, une seule main

Les sculptures de Firmin ont voyagé. Voici les villes où elles se sont posées.

🇧🇫
Bobo Dioulasso
Burkina Faso
depuis 2004
🇧🇫
Ouagadougou
Burkina Faso
2006 – 2010
🇧🇪
Bruxelles
Belgique
2005
🇸🇮
Ljubljana
Slovénie
2008 – 2009
🇬🇭
Accra
Ghana
2013
🇫🇷
Lyon
France
2013 – 2014
🇫🇷
Paris
France
2016
🇬🇫
Saint-Laurent
Guyane
2017 – 2019
🇸🇷
Paramaribo
Surinam
2018
🇫🇷
Bordeaux
France
2022
🇫🇷
Vallauris
France
2023
🇫🇷
Antibes
France · atelier
aujourd'hui
Testimonials

What they say

A rare encounter with an artist who teaches as much as he creates. The lost-wax workshop with Firmin will remain a defining moment.

Élodie M. · Participant 2023, Antibes

The sculpture I purchased has become the centerpiece of my living room. Firmin's bronze has a soul.

Jean-Pierre L. · Collector, Bordeaux

Working with Firmin on the Saint-Laurent du Maroni exhibition was a true human and artistic adventure.

Mairie de Saint-Laurent du Maroni · French Guiana
Workshops & Foundry

Passing on the fire

Firmin offers lost-wax initiation workshops and art foundry services for artists, professionals and events.

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Initiation workshops

Learn lost-wax casting, from modeling to bronze pouring. For children from age 6, adults and families, from 6 participants.

Learn more
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Art foundry

Live performances and demonstrations at events. Bronze or aluminum casting for artists, professionals and amateurs.

View services
Contact

An idea, a project?

To buy a work, host an exhibition, schedule a workshop or commission an art casting.

Antibes Workshop

24 Bd d'Aguillon, 06600 Antibes

+33 7 67 11 70 40

Bobo Dioulasso Workshop

+226 76 49 43 34

BP 1232 rue Vidence, Secteur 4 Koko, Bobo Dioulasso

Write

firminleonard.arts@gmail.com

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