Hi David

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

Javier Marín was born in 1962 in Uruapan, Michoacán, Mexico; he is a celebrated contemporary sculptor recognized globally for his explorations of the human figure. Marín studied visual arts at the Academia de San Carlos (part of UNAM) from 1980 to 1983, and his debut solo show came in 1990 at Mexico City's Carrillo Gil Art Museum, where he exhibited clay sculptures.

While his early pieces centered on indigenous clay from Oaxaca and Pátzcuaro, he evolved to incorporate lost-wax bronze, wood, polyester resin, and even organic elements such as tobacco, amaranth seeds, rose petals, and meat fibers.

His exhibition in Pietrasanta in 2008 was part of his expansive traveling exhibition titled De 3 en 3, which began in Pietrasanta and later continued through cities like Milan, The Hague, Brussels, La Baule-Escoublac, Luxembourg, and Rome. In Pietrasanta, Marín collaborated with local artisans to produce large marble heads and torsos, bringing his distinctive rough, expressive style into a medium usually associated with polished refinement. Instead of perfect finishes, he maintained his trademark unfinished textures, tool marks, and expressive distortions, giving marble the same raw vitality he achieves in clay and bronze.

Carrara marble is considered the finest marble for sculptors and while I can't confirm if this was the ONLY one he has EVER made from carrara marble, his marble and stone pieces of this size usually sell at auction for between $25,000 and $40,000 but with this made from carrara, it's worth more - $50,000-60,000.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

Javier Marin (Mexican, b 1962)
Untitled head, circa 2008
carrara marble
150cm (59 inches) by 100cm (39-3/8 inches) by165cm (65 inches)
CONDITION: This appears to be in good condition.
PROVENANCE: Purchased from the Javier Marin exhibition in Pietrasanta Italy in 2008
$50,000-70,000*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia