Formes volantes

This exhibition at A&R Fleury, Paris, focuses on the mural sculptures of Alicia Penalba, particularly her "Formes volantes" series. Originally commissioned by Saint-Gobain to showcase their Securit glass, these works feature petal-like and conical forms that interact with the surrounding architecture. The exhibition traces a dialogue between Penalba's early mural works from the late 1950s and her creations from the 1960s, a period marked by her exploration of opening forms to incorporate light and liberate volumes.

Penalba's practice during this time questioned how to activate space dynamically without fully annexing it, and how to integrate sculpture into a relationship with the viewer's perception and body. This approach transformed the wall into an active field of spatial expansion. The majority of the works displayed are sourced directly from the artist's personal collection, supported by extensive archival research by the gallery, which has also produced an accompanying catalogue.