Barry X Ball-Prince Albert Portrait

Barry X Ball is an American artist and sculptor whose work has been widely exhibited internationally over the last 30 years. He has reimagined the age-old tradition of figurative sculpture through the use of contemporary technologies and unconventional materials. In 2020 the artist realized a portrait-sculpture of His Serene Highness Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco. The Princely Head was created in solid 18K gold, suffused with various species of intertwined marine vegetation, containing foliated symbols of the Principality of Monaco and the Prince’s monogram, with alternating polished and matte passages.

To realize this complex work, the artist turned to Italian craftsmanship. He chose the master artisans of the famous Italian jewelry house, Damiani, to bring his vision to life. Meanwhile, he chose Goppion to create a custom showcase to display and protect the work according to his specifications. The artist traveled multiple times to Italy, visiting Goppion’s workshop and developing the case together with our team. He scrupulously chose every detail, finish, material, and color of the case, which he considered to be an integral part of the finished work of art, not merely a box where it is placed. He carefully studied the placement of the sculpture inside the case on a custom mount, and he personally chose the exact piece of stone to be used for the case’s base. A mirror was placed in the rear of the case, to facilitate viewing of the entire head.

Damiani’s master artisans also collaborated with the artist for almost a year, bringing to life an extraordinary and complex piece of art. The sculpture is permanently installed at the public entrance to the Galerie des Glaces at the Palace.