Francisco Leiro’s large, writhing bronze figure, torturously impaled as the title Skewered describes, was cast at the Johnson Atelier from an original work carved in poplar.  An observer of human nature, Leiro interprets nightmarish tragedy, illustrating the delicate balance between mastery and failure, and tempering the absurd with ironic and comedic statements in his powerful, emotive sculptures.  Comparisons and similarities in subject matter--depictions of human pathos--have been made to the works of two Spanish masters, Francisco Goya and Pablo Picasso, though in Leiro’s world, the rational does prevail.

Leiro grew up in the northern region of Spain, an area steeped in centuries of religious traditions and history.  He now lives and works in New York and continues to spend part of the year in his native country in Pontevedra.  Well known and respected for his sculptures carved in wood and stone, Leiro has received numerous public commissions.  His works are also in museum collections in Spain, Portugal, Japan, the Netherlands, and in the United States; and have been exhibited in solo and group shows at venues throughout the Iberian Peninsula, in France, Italy, Germany, Japan, Australia, countries in South America, and a number of times at Marlborough Gallery in New York City.

Skewered, 1999
cast bronze, 2/2
71 1/2" x 59" x 30"
Courtesy of The Sculpture Foundation, Inc.