Born in Nancy, Gilbert Valentin first discovered ceramics in the commune of Dieulefit in southeastern France, a small town with a rich history in the artform reaching back nearly 2,000 years. He further expanded his abilities with a professional ceramics apprenticeship at the National School of Vierzon (now Lycée Henri-Brisson) followed by a stint as a ceramic engineer at the Lunéville-Saint-Clément pottery. In 1950, Valentin moved to Vallauris, yet another city with a historic ceramic tradition, and founded his own pottery which he named Les Archanges. There, he hosted and worked with a multitude of artists, painters, sculptors, musicians, and writers, including Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, and Jean Cocteau. Valentin’s ceramics are characterized by robust, sculptural forms and vivid, often abstract decoration.
