Yves Dana – 2023

Yves Dana, born June 25, 1959 in Alexandria, Egypt, is a Swiss sculptor renowned for his work in iron, stone and bronze. In 1961, his family moved to Switzerland, where Dana began his artistic career. In 1979, he opened his first studio in Lausanne and began working in iron, creating over 200 sculptures in this material.

Parallel to his artistic activity, Dana obtained a degree in sociology from the University of Lausanne in 1981 and a diploma from the École Supérieure des Arts Visuels in Geneva in 1983. His first major exhibition took place in 1985 at Galerie Alice Pauli, marking the beginning of his recognition. In 1987, he set up his studio at the Orangerie du Parc Mon-Repos in Lausanne, an exceptional location that became essential to his creativity.

In 1996, a six-month stay in Egypt had a profound influence on his work. He simplified his forms and concentrated on hieratic pieces, inaugurating the “Stèles” series. In 1999, he turned to stone sculpture, working with blocks from various countries. In 2002, he abandoned iron to focus entirely on stone, creating monumental sculptures exhibited in prestigious venues including New York and Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum.

Dana has taken part in over 120 group exhibitions and more than 50 solo shows worldwide. In 2009, he opened a studio in Pietrasanta, Italy, where he continues to work in plaster and stone. In 2015, he was awarded the Fondation Vaudoise pour la Culture prize, and a major retrospective was organized at the Musée Arlaud in Lausanne. In 2022, a sculpture was exhibited at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art; in 2023, a new monograph was published, highlighting the importance of his work, and a major retrospective was organized at Artcurial, Paris. Since then, he has collaborated with the Waddington Custot Gallery in London.

Yves Dana’s sculptures have been on display in Vullierens since 2023.