Rating and value of sculptures and bronzes by Irénée Duriez

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Rating and value of the artist Irénée Duriez

Duriez is the originator of figurative work, in the surrealist or abstract current, depending on the work. A talented sculptor, he was one of the most famous artists of his time. Today, prices for his works are skyrocketing under the auctioneer's hammer.

His bronzes are prized above all by French and European buyers. The price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €90 to €11,000, a considerable delta but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to Duriez's sculptures and drawings.

In 2025, a bronze entitled Female torse, representing a bust of a nude woman was sold for €11,000 while it was estimated at between €10,0000 and €15,000.

Order of value ranging from a simple work to the most prestigious

Style and technique by artist Irénée Duriez  

Irénée Duriez (1950 -) is a French sculptor known for his depictions of the female figure. He works mainly in bronze, his preferred material. He frequently uses lost wax for precise, detailed casting.

The patinas are varied, including brown, green and gold, which the artist sometimes shades to emphasize volumes. Limited editions are often signed and numbered, reinforcing the collector's value.

His work is marked by a mastery of modeling, with a fluid, sensual rendering of bodies. Surfaces are polished and softened, playing on the light and texture of the bronze. Details are realistic yet idealized, emphasizing harmony and balance over strict anatomical accuracy. His meticulous execution combines technical rigor and expressive freedom.

He depicts almost exclusively female models, nude or draped. The bodies are sculpted in slender, graceful postures, sometimes slightly off-balance, creating an impression of movement.

He deliberately plays with sinuous, curving lines, inscribing his works in a search for fluidity and elegance. His aesthetic is figurative and timeless, a far cry from abstract or conceptual trends.

His work is centered on a celebration of feminine beauty, in an approach that is both classical and modern. His work is influenced by the French academic tradition (Rodin, Bourdelle) which is reinterpreted in a more streamlined, contemporary vision.

His desire is to make the female body a universal symbol of grace and harmony, and he masters modeling in clay and plaster before the passage to cast iron. The artist is precise in his rendering of drapery and textures, which contrast with the softness of the flesh.

As for the patinas, they are applied in such a way as to emphasize curves and volumes, accentuating the sensuality of the forms.

The career of Irénée Duriez

Irénée Duriez was born in 1950 in Flanders, France, where he still lives today. He started out as a draughtsman and painter, but was marked from the start of his career by the human figure.

He soon turned to sculpture, a discipline that would become his preferred mode of expression. He was self-taught, but his training was reinforced by encounters with artisan founders and sculptors.

He held his first exhibitions in the 1970s, where he presented drawings and sculptures, and attracted attention with his figurative, sensual line, centered on the female body. He developed a lasting relationship with several art foundries, who enabled him to produce his bronzes in limited editions.

In the 1980s - 1990s, he asserted his sculptural language with series dedicated to femininity and sensuality. He exhibits regularly in France and Belgium, notably in contemporary art galleries and sculpture fairs.

His work quickly finds a place in international private collections, notably in Europe and the United States. He takes part in group exhibitions devoted to contemporary figurative sculpture.

Installed and active in French Flanders, he has also established his studio there. The artist is faithful to an approach centered on the representation of women, which he considers a universal and timeless theme.

Irénée Duriez defends a sculpture that is classical in its subject but contemporary in its execution, refusing in a sense the excesses of conceptual art. He is also involved in passing on his skills through modeling workshops and demonstrations.

In today's contemporary landscape, he is recognized as a major figurative sculptor. His work continues to be exhibited in galleries, notably in northern France and Belgium, and at a number of international art fairs.

Market segmentation and the artist's rating

Original bronzes (full-length or busted female subjects) are the artist's most important segment. These are major pieces, often in limited editions (8 or 12 copies). The range for these works is between €5,000 and €15,000, with potential rises, depending on size, patina and provenance.

Small formats and current editions are also sought-after but more affordable, between €3,000 and €7,000. Preparatory drawings and works on paper, graphic research related to his sculptures, have a slimmer but stable price. Prices may vary slightly according to technique (charcoal, sanguine, ink).

He has also created monumental works that are installed in public spaces or private locations. They are very rarely seen in auction rooms. The potential of these works is comparable to some monumental pieces by César or Arman (€30,000 - €80,000).

Demand is strong in Europe thanks to a clientele attached to figurative sculpture. The artist's market value has been stable for the past fifteen years, with a slight increase linked to growing interest in figurative sculptors of the 20th and 21st centuries. However, he remains less present than other bronze artists such as Mitoraj on the market.

Recognizing the artist's signature

Irénée Duriez's works are generally signed. However, it is preferable to have your work appraised.

Knowing the value of a work

If you happen to own a work by or after Irénée Duriez, don't hesitate to request a free valuation using our form on our website.

A member of our team of experts and chartered auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the market value of your work, as well as ad hoc information about it.

If you wish to sell your work, you will also be accompanied by our specialists in order to benefit from alternatives for selling it at the best possible price, taking into account the inclinations of the market.