René JULIEN Belgian, 1937-2016

Overview

L'Envol / Flying (Monumental), 2011

"A sculpture is a motionless momentum able to bewitch the present time."

- Jacques Salomé

René Julien (1937–2017) is recognised as one of Belgium’s leading modern figurative sculptors, celebrated for his elegant bronze figures and his unique mastery of movement, light and emotion. Nominated as a professor at the Fine Arts Academy of Liège at only 25, he rapidly established himself as a major artistic voice.

For more than 25 years, ArtThema Gallery has been the exclusive representative of René Julien, supporting his work during his lifetime and honouring the promise made to him to preserve and promote his legacy beyond his passing. Today, the gallery holds the last available editions of his bronze sculptures — highly sought-after pieces prized by collectors in Europe and abroad.

René Julien’s work is defined by graceful, elongated figures, poetic silhouettes and a timeless celebration of femininity and human tenderness. His bronzes, both intimate and monumental, remain benchmarks for collectors seeking expressive, high-quality European sculpture.

René Julien (Publication 2021)

Biography

Belgian artist died at 79 years-old in his "Chateau Vert" in Cavaillon

Notable Public Acquisitions & Prizes

René Julien was born in 1937 in Hollogne-sur-Pierres, Belgium. After studying at the Fine Arts Academy of Liège, he quickly rose to prominence: at only 25, he was appointed professor at the Academy, later becoming director of the Academy of Brussels and inspector at the Commission of Plastic Arts for the French Community in Belgium. Over the decades, he received numerous prestigious awards, including the Godecharle Prize, the Antoine Watteau Prize, and the Order of Arts and Letters in France.

A master of grace, light and movement

René Julien is renowned for his distinctive bronze figures — elongated, fluid and imbued with an airy elegance that seems to defy gravity. His sculptures capture the tenderness of an attitude, the poetry of a gesture, the radiance of femininity and the intimacy of human emotion. His work evokes Renaissance ideals while remaining profoundly contemporary, combining universal beauty with a tactile, human presence.

Major public installations worldwide

René Julien’s artistic language extends far beyond the studio. Many of his monumental works are installed in prominent public spaces, including:

• Les Égéries (8 monumental figures) — Huawei Headquarters, Shenzhen, China
• Dream’s Breath — Belgian Federal Government, Palais d’Egmont, Brussels
• The Return — Victoria Station, London
• Les Navetteuses — Brussels International Airport
• L’Envol de la Wallonie — Walloon Government, Liège
• Works for Amnesty International, the Château de la Hulpe, AXA, and numerous European institutions

A unique and lasting collaboration with ArtThema Gallery

ArtThema Gallery has represented René Julien exclusively for more than 40 years — a rare artistic partnership built on trust, loyalty and shared vision. Shortly before his passing, René Julien expressed the wish that his work continue to be promoted beyond his lifetime. This promise has been honoured.

In 2021, ArtThema created a major tribute exhibition in Ramatuelle, presenting 18 monumental sculptures throughout the village, at the prestigious Château des Marres, and on the iconic Pampelonne beach (Cabane Bambou).

The last available editions — for collectors of exceptional bronze sculpture

Today, ArtThema holds the final available editions of René Julien’s bronzes. These rare works, both intimate and monumental, are highly sought after by collectors in Europe and around the world.
ArtThema remains the primary and historical reference for any acquisition, expertise or exhibition concerning René Julien.

René Julien (Publication 2021)

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