Artist: Jean-Michel Folon
Year: 1994
Dates: b. 1934, Uccle, Brussels
Materials: Bronze
Dimensions: 6′ 10 5/8″ x 7′ 2 5/8″ x7′ 2 5/8″

About Fontaine Aux Oiseaux

“Fontaine Aux Oiseaux” translates to “Bird Fountain.”

Jean-Michel Folon was born in Belgium in 1934 and is well known for his signature “man-bird” style, as he used these subjects throughout his vast career in drawings, paintings, sculptures and books.

La Fontaine Aux Oiseaux translates from French to English as “bird fountain,” though, we lovingly refer to this sculpture as “The Man with Bird.” Cast in bronze in 1994, this sculpture was built with the ability to function as a working water fountain. This particular sculpture is an edition of five and considered to be one of the artists greatest master pieces. The remaining four sculptures can be found in different places around the world.

After moving to the outskirts of Paris in 1955, where the artist worked for many years, he later moved to Monaco in 1985. It was here where MOA co-founders John and Marjorie Madden first saw this sculpture. It was acquired in 2003 and later donated to MOA in 2013. The artist passed away in 2005 but his legacy lives on through the Folon Foundation and Museum located near Brussels, Belgium.