Sculptur , Wood - Frans Wijnants

Silhouette of a headless woman, solid wood mounted on a wooden base, Frans Wijnants (1926-1987), signed (F.W.)

Frans Wijnants (Mechelen 1926-1987 Rijmenam), sculptor.
Frans Wijnants comes from a family of sculptors. His father, Nante, and his nephew, Ernest, are both sculptors. Frans takes evening classes in drawing and attends the technical school, where he learns to sculpt furniture.
He studied sculpture at the Academy of Mechelen (1943-44) and modelling at the Academy of Antwerp (1950-51). Starts working as a sculptor in the furniture industry in Mechelen, where he works full time until 1947 - and where he will continue to sculpt small decorative panels until the end of his life. He then worked in the sculpture workshop of his father, who died in 1955 (14 October). From then on, Frans organised his own workshop.
He mainly made interior wood sculptures in a sober figurative style, which he executed in direct carving. He also works with artificial stone, polyester and bronze. Sculpting devils and abstract figures from tree branches, guided by the natural shape of the wood. Sign of the monogram FW.
Obtains few commissions for large-scale works. For the school in Edegem, where his nephew is headmaster, he creates a monumental statue: Mother and Child. On his grave he erects a statue of his own design, which also depicts a Mother and Child.
Member of the art circle KK68 in Antwerp and the HNITA group in Heist-op-den-Berg.