Henri Iglésis breathes life into his Little Men sculptures
- Delphine & Romain Class
- Jul 17
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 18
Halfway between workshop craftsmanship and contemporary art, Henri Iglésis shapes a world apart. Born from a family metallurgical know-how and a unique inventive gesture, the Catalan artist has created a signature as bold as it is playful: that of blown sheet metal. And at the heart of this universe filled with humanity stands his favorite character, the “Little Man,” a joyful sentinel of metal and air.
An invention born from a whirlwind and an accident
The story begins in the metallurgical workshops of Perpignan, where Henri Iglésis, born in 1964, was immersed from childhood in the sound of hammers and the smell of hot iron. The grandson of a blacksmith and the son of a turner-toolmaker, he naturally trained as a boilermaker-welder. Yet, beneath this technical rigor lies a boundless imagination. It was in 2008 that the magic happened. While attempting to create a bust as a gift for his son, Henri Iglésis had an improbable idea: weld two sheet metal shells together, then blow compressed air through them. Under the pressure, the sheet metal swells, takes shape... and becomes a pop art sculpture, once painted. The artistic accident—sometimes literal, like the 1.5-meter-tall metal cypress tree that exploded and fractured his wrist—turned into an invention: blown sheet metal was born. He gradually made it his main activity and became a full-time artist.
Today, this blown sheet metal technique, protected by a patent, forms the foundation of all his work. The artist sees it as a fertile paradox: combining the hardness and rigidity of metal with the almost childlike and poetic softness of the curves of his works of art, rigidity with lightness, industrial with organic.
The “Little Man”: A Universal Character
Through these experiments, a recurring form of sculpture emerged: that of a small, stylized character with outstretched arms and a plump body, sometimes smiling, always playful, and often colorful. Named “Little Man,” he became the artist's mascot, his iconic pop art work, his blown metal alter ego. This character alone embodies the entire intention of the artist Henri Iglésis: to create an accessible, joyful pop art work, immediately readable by the greatest number of people.
Inspired by the childlike silhouette of the "stick figure," this character appeals to the collective unconscious. It evokes childhood games, naive pictograms, and universal forms. Far from elitist art, the "Little Man," on the contrary, demystifies contemporary sculpture by infusing it with tenderness and humor. It's a shot of happiness and everyday positivity.
A technique combining rigor and fantasy
Each sculpture is the result of a demanding process. The sheets of metal are cut, meticulously welded by hand, then inflated with high-pressure air. This force is not trivial: it brings the material to life, but imposes significant physical constraints. The air collides with the welds, seeks to escape, creating unexpected shapes, which the artist learns to master without ever completely dominating them. Each work thus created is unique; no other identical one will exist, since the deformations during high-pressure inflation are random and different for each creation.
Henri Iglésis asserts this semi-random character: "I don't decide everything, it's the metal that responds to me. Each sculpture has its own personality, its own breath." The work is completed with coloring: lacquered paint, matte varnish, satin patinas. The works are available in a bold palette: flamboyant red, Klein blue, candy pink, bright orange, and deep black.
A work imbued with joy and poetry
What first strikes one about the "Little Men" is their ability to bring a smile, to bring happiness and serenity to the beholder. Far from the austerity often associated with metal sculpture, the creations of pop sculptor Henri Iglésis radiate joy and humor. They are in the spirit of Pop Art. They seem to have come straight from a childhood dream, ready to take flight like balloons, to dance in an invisible carnival. They are available in two standard sizes, 45 or 70 cm high, but can also be custom-made in sizes over one meter. Available on a base or a stem (which gives the little man the impression of flying), they can also be combined with two or three little men. The artist has even created a sculpture featuring a farandole of colorful little men in a circle.
But behind this lightness also lies a deeper message. These simple, universal forms question our relationship with the body, identity, and memory. The "Little Man" becomes a symbol of resilience, rediscovered simplicity, and a return to the essential.
Some works measure barely twenty centimeters, others over six feet tall. They can be displayed in a living room, on a desk, or outdoors, in a public garden or at a company entrance. Each retains the same ability to touch the viewer, regardless of age or culture.
Growing Recognition
In recent years, Henri Iglésis's work has been gaining popularity. Presented in several French galleries—including Class Art Biarritz—he has attracted private collectors and institutions. His works are featured in public spaces, company halls, and international exhibitions.
The artist continues to create from his studio in the South of France, faithful to his raw material: sheet metal. There he continues his formal research, exploring other volumes, other characters, other emotions – but always with the same philosophy: “Make metal joyful.”
As a conclusion: the breath of an artist
Henri Iglésis doesn't just sculpt sheet metal. He sculpts air, play, and the moment. Through his blown sheet metal technique, he infuses raw materials with a disarming humanity. His "Little Men," both humorous and poetic, reach out to us as if to remind us that art can be simple, immediate, and, above all, deeply alive.
His succession is already assured, as his son Kevin has also taken up blown sheet metal sculpture.
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