lhouette unveils his iconic angel cake motif in a monumental bronze sculpture
words from arkley...
Some projects go far beyond simply finding the right artwork for a client. This was one of them. Our journey with Lhouette began with an ambitious vision: to take his unmistakable visual language beyond the canvas and create a significant sculptural work that could exist completely in its own right.
Bringing that vision to life also meant finding the right collector, someone who understood what Lhouette wanted to create and was prepared to trust the journey before the finished sculpture existed. We were incredibly fortunate to find a client who shared that vision and gave us the opportunity to make it a reality.
Working closely with Lhouette, Arkley Fine Art was part of the project from its earliest development through to the finished sculpture. Central to bringing the work to life was Pangolin Editions, one of the UK’s most highly regarded fine art foundries. With a remarkable history of producing works for internationally recognised artists including Damien Hirst, Yayoi Kusama and STIK, Pangolin brought an extraordinary depth of expertise, craftsmanship and technical knowledge to the project. It was here that Lhouette’s vision was transformed into bronze, combining traditional foundry techniques with the precision and engineering required to realise a work of this scale.
For Lhouette, this represented an important evolution in his practice. Successfully translating an established visual identity into large-scale bronze is a significant step for any artist, opening an entirely new dimension to his work and demonstrating how far his practice can extend beyond the canvas. Watching the sculpture evolve through the foundry was an incredible part of the journey, but the final chapter was perhaps the most rewarding.
Arkley worked with the client through to the installation of the finished bronze within their garden, taking the project full circle from an initial idea to a permanent work in its final setting.For us, this project represents exactly what we love about working with artists and collectors: developing ambitious ideas, bringing together the right people and being part of the journey that brings them to life.From Lhouette’s studio, through Pangolin Editions, to its final installation, this was more than the creation of a new artwork.
It marked an exciting new chapter in Lhouette’s practice, and one we are incredibly proud to have helped bring to life.
"Angel Cake has always had that contrast I’m drawn to. Over the years she’s also become a sort of symbolic guardian angel for a number of collectors, which has given her a life beyond what I originally intended." - lhouette
where it all began
the story of angel cake
Angel Cake started with Lhouette's original spray painted silhouette and has continued to evolve throughout his practice.
Over the years, the motif has appeared in countless forms and has travelled far beyond the studio, becoming one of the most recognisable symbols within Lhouette's work.
Now, his iconic silhouette has entered an entirely new chapter.
the foundary
pangolin editions
Bringing Angel Cake into bronze meant working with one of the UK’s leading specialist sculpture foundries. Pangolin Editions, based in Gloucestershire, has been creating exceptional bronze sculpture for artists, galleries and collectors for decades, with a reputation for combining traditional craftsmanship with a highly skilled contemporary approach.
For Lhouette, the process brought his unmistakable visual language into an entirely new medium. From the initial sculptural form through to casting, finishing and patination, every stage was carefully considered to preserve the character and detail of Angel Cake while giving the bronze a presence of its own.
The project was developed over 18 months with Pangolin Editions, with the process documented from studio through casting, finishing and installation.
angel cake has found a new home
the installation
After 18 months of development, casting and finishing, A Fall from Grace finally arrived at its new home. Working closely with the collector, Arkley Fine Art was there for the final stage of the journey, overseeing the installation of the monumental bronze within its new garden setting.
Seeing Lhouette’s Angel Cake realised at this scale, in the environment it was created for, was a particularly special moment for everyone involved. From the initial vision in Lhouette’s studio, through the craftsmanship of Pangolin Editions, to its final installation, the project had come full circle.
