Walenty Pytel
Born
Walenty Pytel was born in 1941 in Polish-occupied Ukraine during the turmoil of the Second World War. He was born to a teenage mother, while his father disappeared amid the social upheaval and was later imprisoned for forging currency. His earliest years were marked by extreme hardship and instability during the successive occupations of the region by Ukrainian, Russian and German forces.
Early Life
Pytel’s childhood was shaped by dramatic wartime events. As a blue-eyed, fair-haired infant, he was taken by the Nazis and given to a Gestapo officer and his wife. His birth mother, who had escaped from a German camp, risked her life to steal him back from the couple’s garden and fled with another refugee mother, Natalie Hermann, and her daughter Klara.
After reaching the relative safety of a refugee camp in Italy, Pytel’s mother met the man who would later become his stepfather. At this point, Natalie Hermann took responsibility for bringing the young Walenty to London along with her own daughter. By the age of five, he had effectively been raised by three different maternal figures, reflecting the upheaval of his earliest years.
Education
Pytel showed artistic talent from a very young age. At just fifteen years old, he was accepted into the Hereford School of Art; an unusually early admission that recognised his natural ability and creative promise.
During his five years there, he developed the deep connection with nature that would later become central to his sculpture. It was also during this period that he met Mary, who would later become his wife.
Career
After completing his studies, Pytel moved to London in 1961 to work as a graphic designer for McLaren’s Publishers. The following year he returned to Hereford, where he established two studios and began to focus fully on sculpture.
Over time he became internationally recognised, particularly for his dynamic metal sculptures of birds and animals. His work has been commissioned and exhibited across Europe, the United States, Japan and the Middle East.
Among his most notable public commissions is the Jubilee Sculpture located in New Palace Yard outside the Palace of Westminster, created to commemorate the 1977 Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II.
Pytel has since become widely regarded as one of Europe’s leading sculptors of birds and wildlife.
Personal Life
Pytel married Mary after returning to Hereford in the early 1960s. Alongside his artistic career, he enjoyed outdoor pursuits such as fishing and shooting.
In a freak shooting accident he narrowly avoided losing a leg but eventually made a full recovery. Later, in 2007, he suffered a severe stroke and was seriously injured when part of a roof collapsed while he was carrying out repairs on his estate. After months in hospital and an extensive rehabilitation period during which he had to relearn to walk and speak, he made a remarkable recovery.
Subjects of Work
Nature has always been central to Pytel’s artistic vision. His sculptures most often depict birds and wild animals, capturing movement, power and grace. The natural world, particularly the landscapes and wildlife of rural England, has remained his primary inspiration since his earliest artistic training.
Materials of Work
In the early stages of his sculpting career, Pytel’s works were made from sheets of aluminium, which were moulded and riveted together. By the mid to late 60’s, upon buying his own welder, Pytel was working with welded mild steel to create unique sculptures of various sizes and subjects. He would continue to work with mild steel for his sculpting career, though he has sculpted with concrete a few times. Upon meeting his agent in 1986, he began creating bronze casts of his original welded pieces. While his bronze works are generally smaller in size compared to the originals, they still maintain the same level of details and charm as the originals. Pytel’s workflow on original pieces has slowed down as he’s aged, however limited edition bronze casts of his works are still being made.
Awards and Exhibitions
Pytel’s sculptures have been exhibited widely across Europe and internationally, and many of his works form part of significant public and private collections. His public commissions, particularly the Jubilee Sculpture at Westminster, have cemented his reputation as a leading sculptor of wildlife subjects.
Walenty Pytel sculpture for sale from The Sculpture Park is detailed below:
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Animals and Birds £2,800 inc VATLifesize Steel Bird Sculpture – Hawk by Walenty Pytel (Unique)
Hawk by Walenty Pytel, Steel
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Animals and Birds £1,800 inc VATTabletop Steel Bird Sculpture – Hawk Head by Walenty Pytel (Unique)
Hawk Head by Walenty Pytel, Steel,
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Animals and Birds £18,000 inc VATLarge Steel Bird Sculpture – Mystical Bird by Walenty Pytel
Walenty Pytel, Fantastic Bird, Welded Steel
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Animals and Birds £14,400 inc VATMonumental Abstract Bird Steel Sculpture – Fantastic Bird by Walenty Pytel (Unique)
Walenty Pytel, Fantastic Bird, Painted Welded Steel