« Gus », the shih tzu — Ceramic by Arnaud Quercy

About This Artwork

This Cubist-inspired sculpture abstracts the form of Gus, the beloved Shih Tzu of Isis Gondoin, Arnaud Quercy's instructor at the Paris Profils et Reliefs workshop. Part of the Untamed Creations collection, the work employs geometric planes and angular facets to deconstruct and reinterpret the familiar companion who regularly accompanied Isis to the studio. Quercy uses volumetric fragmentation to transform the dog's essential character into modernist sculptural language.

The sculpture presents angular geometric planes that break down the Shih Tzu's form into faceted surfaces. Warm earthy tones develop across the ceramic surface through the firing process, creating natural patination that enhances the geometric structure. The clay includes small ceramic particles for strength, allowing the sharp edges and intersecting planes to maintain their definition. Each facet catches light differently, creating shifting shadows that emphasize the Cubist fragmentation of the animal's form.

The piece measures twenty by fourteen by thirty centimeters and weighs approximately three kilograms. Created in France during 2024, the sculpture bears certificate of authenticity number 20240310-0059 with the artist's signature on the back. The work connects to the tradition of Cubist sculptors like Jacques Lipchitz, Henri Laurens, and Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, applying their geometric vocabulary to contemporary animal portraiture within the broader exploration of form and abstraction that defines the Untamed Creations series.