R.Papi - R.Papi - Sculpture, La Flore de la Passion. - 52 cm - Earthenware - 2026

There is a powerful, wild beauty in this sculpture by R. Papi. Standing 52 centimeters tall, the work asserts itself with its elongated, sinuous silhouette, typical of the artist's poetics, who shapes the terracotta as if giving life to a breath.

The face, tilted back in an almost ecstatic or painful abandonment, is a riot of materiality. On the clay skin, the artist has boldly played with color: the cheeks bear traces of iridescent pigments, green, coppery, and red, as if makeup melting away or like the colors of an emotional wound, making the face incredibly human, fragile, and alive. The lips are parted and painted a vivid red with a touch of gold at the center.

The head is crowned by a sculptural, voluminous hairstyle, from which magnificent white roses in clay bloom. These flowers, treated with pearly white and enriched with golden stamens, create a sublime contrast with the carnality of the face, symbol of purity and rebirth.

The bust, clad in a dress with vibrant tones of red, purple, and midnight blue, tightens into a corset that accentuates the feminine form. The hands, molded with meticulous care, hold another tuft of white roses and a green iridescent leaf, almost as if protecting a secret or offering a bouquet of flowers to life.

Every corner of this sculpture tells a different story: the bare back, with its soft curves and the shadows of the terracotta, the rough texture of the dress, the petals that seem to move in the wind. An intense work that brings contemporary art into the home, transforming every space into a personal gallery.

Letter of accompaniment from the artist:
Dear collector,

When I held this earth in my hands I did not know what form it would take. The clay has its own will; you simply have to listen. With this work I wanted to tell the beauty that lies hidden in the human: the beauty that is never perfect, but always true.

I molded her long neck so that she could look beyond appearances, and I let her lips part in a sigh. Then I chose the colors. The red of her dress speaks of the passion that dwells in us, while the white of the flowers represents the purity we strive to keep safe. I painted her face with spots of color, those things we women often try to hide, but which I wanted to exalt: because it is precisely those “imperfections” that make us unique.

Now this sculpture is ready to leave my studio and find a new home. It is not just a piece of furniture: it is a silent companion, a fragment of poetry that I hope can bring a little color and emotion into your daily life.

Thank you for choosing to bring my art into your life.

With affection,
R. Papi