Gudmar Olovson
(Swedish, 1936 - 2017)

Les Deux Arbres (Two Trees), 1964 – 66

By Gudmar Olovson (Swedish, 1936-2017)

Bronze, Lost Wax cast by Fonderie de Coubertin, France, Edition of 8, Last in Edition.

Brought to The Walk by

The Gudmar Olovson Estate, who have gallery partners worldwide

Other casts exist in Château Petrus, France, Ile du Lac Supérieur, Bois de Boulogne, Paris, Falsterbo Open Air Museum, Sweden, Le Jardin de l’Amour Sculpture Park, Château de Cheverny.

Gudmar Olovson (1936-2017) grew up in Stockholm and attended the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts. After completing his studies, he settled in Paris and this began nearly six decades of artistic work in France. He initially occupied a studio at Cité Universitaire thanks to a scholarship, before renting a studio in Montparnasse, where he began establishing his reputation as a sculptor and portraitist. 

Jean Carton, significantly influenced his artistic development. He also worked closely with other prominent sculptors including Paul Cornet, Jean Osouf, and Gunnar Nilsson, and found inspiration in the works of François Rude, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, Carl Milles, and Auguste Rodin.

Olovson was also a celebrated portrait sculptor, which included French presidents, Swedish royalty, actresses and even wine barons. Not only did Olovson participate in Paris’ major Salons starting in the early 1960s, his work was exhibited internationally too. His most significant solo exhibition was a complete retrospective at La Monnaie de Paris in 2007. 

Olovson’s preferred medium was lost wax (cire perdue) bronze. He collaborated with prestigious foundries in France and Sweden. One particularly notable craftsman was Georges Bigel, who became a close friend and worked his last 20 years in Olovson’s studio, eventually being decorated Meilleur Ouvrier de France by the French President.

Olovson passed away in 2017, leaving behind a rich artistic legacy that spans nearly seven decades. In 2022, Stockholm auction house, Bukowskis, along with his children Susanne and 

Magnus Olovson,presented the most extensive retrospective exhibition of his work ever shown. His sculptures continue to celebrate love and human emotions, maintaining their relevance and appeal to contemporary audiences.

Gudmar Olovson's most acclaimed and emblematic work is “Les Deux Arbres”, created between 1964-1966 and it joins us at Treasure House Fair 2025.

 This monumental sculpture, standing 2.4 meters tall, can be found in multiple prestigious locations worldwide, including the Bois de Boulogne in Paris (installed in 1994 as a gift from Swedish industry to the city), the gardens of Château Pétrus. 

His work “Les Deux Sœurs”, stands in front of Ferring’s facilities in New Jersey and at Château de Cheverny, Another piece, “Prélude”, embellishes Medicover’s health clinics in Warsaw and Bucharest. “La Concorde”, depicts harmony in motion and can be seen in monumental form at Falsterbo Open Air Museum and on the French Riviera at Cagnes-sur-Mer.

Olovson’s works serve as monuments to the enduring power of traditional sculptural techniques and the timeless themes of human connection and beauty. The Olovson Estate is represented by eminent gallery partners worldwide and operates within strict casting guidelines and certification.