Igor Mitoraj (1944, Oederan, Germany – 2014, Paris), "Helios"

Biography
He studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków, under Tadeusz Kantor, among others (1967–1968). For the next two years, he continued his studies at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts in Paris. In the mid-1970s, he devoted himself to sculpture, creating intimate heads and torsos wrapped in characteristic veils or bandages. He exhibited these works at his first solo exhibition in 1976 in Paris, which brought him success with both the public and art dealers. In his art, he draws on the traditions of antiquity, treating its legacy as relics of a golden age of culture and timeless models. He is considered one of the most outstanding contemporary artistic figures. His sculptures, often of gigantic size, can be found in prominent locations throughout many cities in Europe, the U.S., and Japan. Since 1976, Igor Mitoraj’s sculptures and drawings have been featured in 120 solo exhibitions.