Pablo Castillo
It was during his time at art school that Pablo Castillo discovered his true vocation, following a comprehensive training in ceramics and several years devoted to functional pottery.
From that moment on, he turned towards figurative sculpture, following in the tradition of potter-sculptors such as Jean Carriès, among many others, as well as the rich heritage of popular terracotta art.
Using the age-old coil-building technique, he patiently constructs each stoneware sculpture by hand, gradually shaping its final form before applying a carefully painted surface that gives each work its vibrant polychromy.
His dreamlike universe, both deliberately naïve and deeply poetic, is imbued with symbolism and psychological depth. Drawing inspiration from fairy tales, fables, mythology, and studies of dream analysis, his sculptures invite viewers into a world where imagination and the subconscious converge.
Pablo Castillo’s works—whether depicting animals, human figures, or hybrid creatures—tell stories, though never mere anecdotes. Expressive through their postures, accessories, and carefully staged compositions, they speak in a poetic language that evokes childhood, the timeless wisdom of legends, and the enduring power of mythology.
Although we may not share the same cultural references as the young Pablo Castillo, who grew up listening to the fantastic and picaresque tales of Spain, our own memories of fairy tales, Jean de La Fontaine’s fables, or Benjamin Rabier’s illustrations can equally reconnect us with familiar narratives and a shared cultural heritage. They also invite us to reflect on the changing relationship between humans and animals—a relationship that has become an increasingly harsh reality in our own time.
The remarkable vitality of creativity in literature, comic books, and children’s animation continues to engage audiences of every generation. It constantly renews these stories of initiation while forging meaningful connections between different forms of artistic expression.
As Patrick Favardin has written, “The animal world has become one of the defining themes of truly contemporary art.” Among the many ceramic sculptors who have embraced this path, Pablo Castillo stands as one of its undisputed masters.
Nicole Crestou, artist. Excerpt from the inaugural speech for Pablo Castillo’s exhibition at the Contemporary Ceramic Centre of La Borne.
Copyright 2018 Galerie Guernieri Mentions légales