SCULPTORS
Decades of experience have taught us about a great deal of artistic styles, earning deep knowledge about quality finishes that have become our trademark. Have a look at this small selection of styles to find the examples you are looking for as an artist.
POLISHED
Polishing is a technique we master in all metals. It´s a long process with more than a dozen steps always resulting in a perfect surface that reflects the scenary around the piece. Polished artwork can be lacquered to achieve maximum outdoor durability.
FIGURATIVE
Figurativism in sculpture is perhaps the origin of our trade and so is reflected in the amount of artwork of this kind brought to our workshops year after year. Bronze and aluminium spilled from our crucibles reaches museums, places of worship, plublic spaces and private collections all around the world consolidating our mastery of the genre.
MONUMENTS
The creation process of great monuments is a discipline that always puts the technical skills and planning capacity of a workshop to a test. Our foundry prides itself on having carried out big format artwork for renowed artists like Pablo Serrano, Manolo Valdés, Patrick O’Reilly, Lorenzo Quinn, Suso Vazquez or Gilfer amongst other. Each project is carefully planned and faced accordingly to meet structure, finishes and time requirements.
SHEET METAL
Sheet metal is and always will be a valuable resource for the sculptoric creation of artists all around the world. José Luis Ponce knows this from the very beginning and has never stopped creating sculpture using this technique. Great names of the genre like Antonio Seguí continue producing their Cor-Ten artwork under our roof after many years working together. Our facilities are equipped with the relavant machinery and specialized staff to handle and assemble laser or waterjet cutouts.
FINISHES
The quality in the finishes is without any doubt the flag of our foundry and what makes us different from the rest. Well finished pieces are not celebrated as victories at the workshop, just seen as due payment to our custommers after accepting their commission. The standard was set more than fifty years ago and new styles and techniques have rised it to higher levels of requirement.
ORGANIZATIONS
Not only artists. The foundry has established strong bonds with organizations of all kinds throughout the years. Institutions as prestigious as the International Olympic Committee have trusted us since the eighties to supply their events and museums with sculpture. But also multinationals as Nike, that commissioned the artwork decorating their headquarters in Oregon.
Also Artesa winery in Napa Valley with the commission of their monument by Marcel Martí. A great deal of non profit organizations such as ONCE, the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the Spanish Council of Shopping Centers, the Goya awards… All of them projects that have made us understand better what companies and organizations look for when they knock on our door.
HEADQUARTERS
Not by chance and for millennia has sculpture embelished centers of power, places of worship or trade and other key human locations. The capacity to make an impression on the visitor and convey meaning from the host with it’s mere presence still atracts companies from all over the world that decide to commission artwork for their headquarters. At our foundry we have had the privilege of working for some of the best out there. Nike´s headquarters in Oregon is a good example, with quite a few bronze sculptures and a monument to Tiger Woods. Also de Olympic Committe has our bronze in all their branches from Lausanne to Singapur. Banks, foundations, and other private entities fill out the list.
LOGOS
Logos embody the image of the company and convey corporative meaning, that’s why many decide to create noble material versions of them that guarantee durability and good appearence. Aliminium, bronze, brass or Cor-ten steel are the most frequently requested options. Our workshop has also great experience including lighting to our publicitary commissions.
COMMEMORATIVE
There comes a time in the life of any organization to commemorate victories, dates, people or events. A great resource in these occasions is to commission artwork that ties the memory to a physical object providing an everlasting bond with the idea. Our foundry has taken on many commissions of the sort and they always carry an extra responsbility of reflecting the customer’s very personal feelings. A first edition of a newspaper in bronze, medals, monuments, mural art… hundreds of projects for highly reputed entities such as the Royal Theatre, the Architectural Association, the Army or the National Police Corps.
AWARDS
Creating awards has always been something to be proud of. From the beginning our foundry has been involved with various organizations that grant awards annualy, receiving this kind of commission every year for the past few decades. The first Goya trophys came out of our crucibles, dozens of projects for the academic and business fields, sports, TV, social work…Our bronze or aluminium has ended up in the hands of world class athletes, great names of culture, Royal Family members, Charity organizations or media personalities.
ARCHITECTURE AND DECORATION
The foundry is also a resource for architects and designers. Refined ornamental pieces, hanging installations, big format murals, external cladding in corten steel or bronze with patina. All elements that bring an added presence to the buildings elevating them to a superior level. We have had the chance to take on some projects at the highest level working for Norman Foster or the Four Seasons Madrid Exclusive apartments. Creative posibilities are almost infinite. Intricate patterns in sheet metal, metal cladding and other elements add to the placing of selected sculpture indoor and outdoor.
FINISHES
Finishes depend on both the customer’s vision and the designated location of the project. Certain kinds of metal work, like bright polishing require a layer of protection if placed outdoors. At our workshop we offer a variety of lacquers and patinas for sculptures and metal surfaces. Years have taught us what customers usually look for depending on the kind of building or room, so aswell as counseling in the technical field we will be happy to suggest solutions in context.
OUTDOORS
Certain finishes such as bright polishing in aluminium or bronze require lacquering treatments to guarantee an optimal endurance if placed outdoors. At J.L.Ponce’s foundry we have great experience placing artwork outdoors all around the globe, considering always meteorological conditions at the final destination to apply the corresponding preservation procedures to achieve optimal integration at it’s new environment. Patinas, colored or transparent lacquers, waxes and every other aesthetic and protection elements are at times as valuable as a good production process.
INTERIORS
Eventhough our trade as metal artisans is intrinsically linked to production, years of working in the art field have alowed us to achieve a certain level of sensitivity towards the needs of interior designers. At J.L.Ponce we are always proud of seeing our pieces in all kinds of buildings, supplementing the decorator’s vision with a touch of plastic art that will always draw the attention of visitors. The resorces are plenty as we have been taught by the many artists who have trusted us with their projects creating innovative spaces. A texturized wall or an elegant piece well placed frecuently become the gravity center of the room
CUSTOM MADE
We have always wanted to go beyond what was expected of us as an artistic foundry, and that´s why José Luis Ponce has decided to take a number of commissions for custom design furniture and limited edition decorative pieces. Tables, chandeliers, chairs… all made in metal with different finishes acording to the style and purpose designated by the decorator.
RESTORATION
Bronze is a durable material considering the amount of artwork that has survived the millennia from ancient times. Although beautiful in itself, the oxidation process is not always wanted and sometimes we just need to restore the original aspect of the piece removing the scars of time. At our workshops we carry out restoration projects for private and public customers using various methods to bring back the originat look of the artwork at the time of it’s delivery. Broken parts, structural deterioration or just worn out patina are some of the problems we can solve with all confidence.
