MIA FONSSAGRIVES-SOLOW
Fashion Designer – Sculpture Artist
BY DENA STEWART
AliveOnSouthBeach.com
Mia Fonssagrives-Solow: A Life Shaped by Art, Now Yours to Own
In a world craving connection and meaning, the sculptures of Mia Fonssagrives-Solow offer a vibrant invitation to see life through a lens of whimsy, elegance, and timeless creativity. This is not just art—it’s a legacy born from a remarkable life steeped in beauty, innovation, and a fearless embrace of the human spirit. Now is the moment to bring her evocative works into your home or collection, as her sculptures, brimming with personality and history, are poised to captivate hearts and spaces like never before.
A Life Woven with Art
Mia Fonssagrives-Solow, born in 1941, is an American sculptor whose story reads like a love letter to creativity. As the daughter of French photographer Fernand Fonssagrives and Swedish supermodel Lisa Fonssagrives, and stepdaughter to the legendary fashion photographer Irving Penn, Mia was raised in a world where art wasn’t just a pursuit—it was a way of life. From her childhood in New York, split between Huntington and Manhattan, she absorbed the rhythms of artistic discipline and bohemian freedom. Her father’s adventurous spirit led her to chase hurricanes in a Studebaker to marvel at nature’s raw power, while her stepfather, Irving Penn, instilled a rigorous work ethic that shaped her approach to creation. “Irving taught me to go to work at eight and leave at five, leaving the work behind,” she recalls, a practice that honed her focus and fueled her prolific career.
Mia’s artistic journey began early. By sixth grade at the Dalton School, she was already sculpting, and as a teenager, she crafted clothing that her mother sold to friends. Accepted into Parsons School of Design on a part-time scholarship, she soon found herself in Paris in the 1960s, where she and friend Vicky Tiel revolutionized fashion with their Mia-Vicky mini dress, featured in a Louis Féraud couture show that made headlines. Their designs, worn by icons like Elizabeth Taylor and featured in Woody Allen’s What’s New Pussycat?, captured the era’s electric spirit. But for Mia, fashion was just the beginning
Returning to the U.S., Mia turned her focus to sculpture, a medium where her imagination could soar. Inspired by the Cycladic art she encountered in Greece and the monumental works of Henry Moore, she began crafting pieces that blend simplicity with profound emotional resonance. Her transition from woodworking in Topanga Canyon to working with metals like bronze and aluminum reflects her fearless evolution as an artist. Today, at 84, she continues to create in her studios in New York and Paris, her work celebrated in galleries from London to Shanghai.
A World of Whimsy and Wonder
Mia’s sculptures are more than objects—they’re storytellers. Her “Robots/Femmebots” series, showcased at Findlay Galleries in 2019, transforms familiar figures—friends, family, even cultural icons like Madonna in her Jean Paul Gaultier bronze bra—into playful, futuristic forms. Cast in polished bronze or aluminum, these works blend humor with humanity, often crafted from found objects like Tide bottles or car disc brakes, which Mia collects with a magpie’s eye for the extraordinary in the everyday. “I realize who they are after they’re done,” she says, describing how her sculptures take on personalities, from her granddaughter Bibi to her stepfather Irving Penn.
Her “Forms” series, meanwhile, distills everyday objects—a sail, an apple, a wave—into sleek, monumental shapes that invite viewers to see the world anew. These works, often towering up to 16 feet and crafted in materials like fiberglass or gilded wood, use negative space to frame their surroundings, echoing Mia’s childhood spent peering through camera lenses. “Negative space is very important to me,” she explains. “I love seeing the world through these shapes—the city, the trees, the sky, even people.”
Mia’s art is a celebration of life’s dualities: the ancient and the futuristic, the personal and the universal, the playful and the profound. Her animal sculptures, like Lion (2018) or Elephant (2018), pulse with a connection to nature, reflecting her commitment to environmental causes through her support of the World Wildlife Fund. Each piece, whether a towering fiberglass form or a delicate bronze figure, carries her signature wit and warmth.
Why Now Is the Time to Buy
Mia Fonssagrives-Solow’s work is at a pivotal moment. With a career spanning over 50 years, her sculptures are collected privately and publicly, gracing spaces from the Mandarin Oriental in New York to the Fondation Maeght in Paris. Her pieces have been featured in Vogue, Artnet, Harper’s Bazaar, and The New York Times, cementing her status as an international icon. Yet, her work remains accessible, with prices ranging from $3,000 to $80,000, offering a rare opportunity to own a piece of her legacy.
Recent exhibitions, like “Bright Wild Things” at Galerie Dumonteil and her 2020 retrospective at Leila Heller Gallery, have spotlighted her enduring relevance. Her jewelry, too, crafted in 18-karat gold with stones like tourmaline and amethyst, offers a wearable extension of her sculptural vision, available through Sotheby’s and other prestigious outlets. With upcoming shows in Dubai and Paris, demand for her work is growing, making now the ideal time to invest in a piece that will only appreciate in value and emotional resonance.
Owning a Mia Fonssagrives-Solow sculpture is more than an acquisition—it’s an invitation to live with art that sparks joy and conversation. Her works, whether a whimsical Femmebot or an elegant Sail Form, transform spaces into sanctuaries of creativity. They’re perfect for collectors seeking pieces with both historical weight and contemporary flair, or for anyone who wants to surround themselves with art that feels alive.
A Legacy to Bring Home
Mia’s life is a testament to the power of art to transcend time and place. From her childhood adventures with her bohemian father to her Paris days designing for film stars, to her current role as a grandmother and environmental advocate, she has lived with an unyielding passion for creation. Her sculptures are an extension of that passion, offering a tangible connection to a woman who has spent decades shaping beauty from the raw materials of life.
Now is the time to act. Galleries like Leila Heller, Findlay, and Dumonteil Contemporary offer her works for sale, with options to request pricing and availability. Whether you’re drawn to the playful T-Rex-i (2020), with its gold leaf and bold red paint, or the serene Apple Form (2020) in green enamel, there’s a piece that speaks to every heart. Visit sites like Ocula, Artsy, or InCollect to explore her portfolio and secure a sculpture that will inspire for generations.
Mia Fonssagrives-Solow’s art is a gift—a chance to own a piece of a beautiful life, crafted with humor, heart, and a vision that reframes the world. Don’t wait to make her work part of your story. The time to buy is now.
Their designs caught the eye of stars like Elizabeth Taylor, and they even designed costumes for Woody Allen’s movie What’s New Pussycat?
Mia Fonssagrives-Solow does not directly sell her own artwork; instead, her sculptures and jewelry are primarily handled through established galleries and agents. Her works are represented by several prestigious galleries, including:
- Leila Heller Gallery (New York and Dubai), which has showcased her solo exhibitions like “Monumental Abstract Forms” (2021) and other shows featuring her sculptures, such as Puzzle I, Sinker, Hill Form, and Sail Form. Prices are available upon request through the gallery.
- Findlay Galleries (New York and Palm Beach), which hosted her “Robots/Femmebots” exhibition in 2019, featuring her bronze and aluminum sculptures.
- Galerie Dumonteil (New York, Paris, and Shanghai), where her “Bright Wild Things” exhibition was displayed, offering works like Lion (2018), Pig (2017), and Madonna (2016) in polished bronze and aluminum. Pricing and availability can be requested through the gallery.
- Sotheby’s (East Hampton), which has exhibited her fine jewelry, including robot pendants with stones like tourmaline and amethyst, available for purchase or special order.
- InCollect and 1stDibs, online platforms listing her sculptures, such as Elephant (2018) and Lucky Baby Elephants, with global shipping available. Prices vary based on medium and size, and interested buyers can request quotes directly.
- Ocula, an art platform where collectors can explore her biography, artworks, and request pricing for pieces like Ludovico (2016) and Stux Bot (2015).
- ARC Fine Art LLC, which also represents her work, though specific pieces and pricing details are available upon inquiry.
Additionally, her artwork has been featured at galleries like Gagosian, Eric Firestone Gallery, and Fondation Maeght, indicating a broad network of agents and institutions managing her sales. For those interested in purchasing, contacting these galleries or platforms directly is the best approach, as they handle inquiries, pricing, and transactions. Mia herself focuses on creating rather than managing sales, leaving the business side to these trusted representatives
