Gabriel Sobin

Gabriel Sobin is a Franco-American artist and sculptor, born in 1971, who lives and works in Provence, France. He studied design at Olivier de Serres and the Camondo School in Paris, where he developed a deep appreciation for form and materiality. Sobin specializes in stone sculptures, often incorporating other natural elements such as wax into his work.

Inspired by the mineral landscapes of the Mediterranean, Sobin draws from childhood memories of the reddish ochres and monumental quarries of the region. These impressions have fueled his imagination and forged a deep emotional connection with his chosen medium. His aesthetic, blending the spirit of minimalism with the philosophies of Zen Buddhism, is deeply rooted in the essence of the materials he uses. Sobin emphasizes the timeless nature of stone, viewing it as a medium imbued with fundamental properties.

Sobin's work also explores the origins and phenomenal aspects of the Universe, drawing on concepts from astrophysics. This inquiry informs his artistic approach, as he seeks to connect the material and the cosmic, bridging the physical world with the infinite.

As he explains: "My work is primitive, stemming from the desire to materialize and connect basic and fundamental themes together. Exploring light and movement in the mineral allows me to unite the fixed with the incessant metamorphoses of the living. A cut drop of water, or even a sound wave, can then materialize in a surprising interaction born of these same paradoxes."

Sobin harnesses the latent potential of stone-a silent yet profound "piece of Earthly consciousness"-breathing life into a material known for its strength and endurance. Drawing inspiration from natural harmonies, he explores the dualities and equilibrium that compose our world. His mobile mineral sculptures, carried by the wind, highlight these contrasts, uniting tangibility with a search for holistic unity within nature.