Philolaos’ Residences and Workshops

The workshop as well as the personal space of an artist consists of living organisms which are transformed and adapted based on his needs and daily life, while simultaneously support his work and contribute to the advancement of his practice.

Resident surrounding – France

In addition, they act as social spaces for inspiration, production, dialogue and negotiation, in which ideas, interpersonal and professional relationships develop, and aspects of the artist’s character, life and spirit are revealed.

Residence – France

Among the different types of artists’ workshops and residences that one may encounter in the countryside or in cities, there are cases that can be described as works of art per se. This category includes the residences and the workshop of the renowned and world-famous sculptor Philolaos Tloupas, spaces designed by him, located in Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse in France and Pelion.

Atelier – France

Philolaos we born in Larisa, he spent a period of his life in Athens, studying at the School of Fine Arts. In 1950, he settled in Paris working at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière and at the workshop of Marcel Gimond in École des Beaux-Arts. Subsequently, in 1951 he decided to continue his education taking ceramics lessons at the Claireau Arts Center of Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse, where he stayed for several years and soon began teaching, while in 1958, he acquired his own estate in the valley. During the 1960s, he began to construct and configure his workshop in the area. Few years later, he also incorporated his residence under his workshop. Philolaos also maintained a house, which used to be a former grocery shop, at Agios Dimitrios in Pelion. He spent his summers there, by collecting different kinds of wood that he used for his works.

Residence – Pelion

It was of great importance to him that the places where he lived and worked were close to nature, in order to be in constant contact with the environment and therefore to nourish his creations. In Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse and Pelion, both the workshop and houses contain elements of architecture combined with sculpture. They are full of different types and sizes of artworks, steel and wood sculptures, tools, furniture designed by him and other handmade objects that reflect that way in which the sculptor explored the materials, gave prominence to theirs functionality, and translated the organicity of nature in their form. Today his family has kept the above spaces intact in an effort to keep the artist alive, and to commemorate his memory and work.

Mari Spanoudaki
Curator & Researcher

Alkis Voliotis
Photo archive