The Alchemy of Urban Timber: Inside the Studio of Sculptor Marc Sparfel

Marc Sparfel is a French artist and sculptor who has found his creative home in Barcelona. Working primarily with reclaimed materials, he transforms discarded street finds into striking explorations of volume and form. Before relocating to the vibrant Spanish city, Sparfel spent his time crafting small objects, lamps, and cardboard furniture from various salvaged materials. However, it was the streets of Barcelona that truly catalysed his current artistic trajectory.

From Barcelona's Pavements to the Studio

Upon arriving in Barcelona, Sparfel was struck by the sheer volume of old furniture left on the pavements. Because each neighbourhood in the city has a designated day for residents to discard large items, the streets offered an endless, albeit unconventional, supply of materials. The true turning point occurred when a friend temporarily stored salvaged wooden furniture on Sparfel's terrace. As Sparfel was preparing to return the uncleaned pieces to the street, he suddenly "started to see something there".

This visual spark led to a prolific period where he created a long series of wooden masks heavily inspired by tribal African art. Fueled by "pure energy" and the prospect of an upcoming exhibition, Sparfel experienced a creative explosion, crafting over 20 sculptures in just six months despite lacking a formal studio or dedicated workspace. He notes that before this massive outpouring of work, being a sculptor wasn't even a defined part of his life; he had been waiting years to discover what his innate drive to create actually meant.

From Figurative to Abstract

After spending a decade working in this figurative style, Sparfel's work naturally shifted. The transition from figurative to abstract sculpture was not a conscious or calculated decision, but rather an organic, intuitive evolution of his practice. Today, he describes his newer, abstract pieces as having an "architectonical landscape" approach, though they often retain the "animal energy" and physical characteristics — such as legs — from his earlier figurative works.

Making, Making, Making

Sparfel's approach to art is deeply physical and anti-academic. His philosophy is defined by "making, making, making," rather than over-conceptualising or overthinking his pieces. He strongly believes that artists must have the independence to define their own rules and forms without worrying about societal opinions. In fact, he is famously hesitant to explain his art with language, noting that as a sculptor, he works with wood, not words. "If I would work with words I would be a writer," he explains, viewing the studio as a sanctuary to disconnect from the world's worries and allow his unconscious intuition to take the lead.

The Magic of Beginning

While the sunny, positive energy of Barcelona and its friendly residents undeniably fuel his practice, the core of Sparfel's motivation lies in the solitary act of creation. For him, the most enjoyable part of the process is the very beginning of a new piece. He describes a thrilling tension between the artist's mind, which projects far into the future of the piece, and the artist's hands, which must work strictly in the present moment. It is this daily excitement in the studio — the anticipation that something fantastic might be discovered — that keeps him returning to his craft. As Sparfel profoundly notes, "It's like magic. And you need magic being an artist because if not, it's impossible".