How to Commission a Bronze Sculpture — Working with Ahmed Allawi

Commissioning an original work of art is one of the most personal investments a collector, architect, or institution can make. It is also, for many, an unfamiliar process — one that raises questions before it raises excitement. How does it begin? How long does it take? What decisions will I need to make?

This guide walks you through the commission process with Ahmed Allawi, from first contact to final installation.

Step One: The First Conversation

Every commission begins with a conversation. There are no forms to fill, no technical specifications required at this stage. Allawi's starting point is always the same: What do you want to feel when you stand before this work?

The brief might be simple — a bronze horse for a hotel lobby, a calligraphic relief for a private residence — or it might be open-ended, inviting the artist's own interpretation. Both are valid. Allawi is equally comfortable working from a precise brief and from a mood, a memory, or a single image that caught a collector's eye.

Initial contact is made through the commissions page. Response is typically within 48 hours.

Step Two: Concept and Proposal

Following the initial conversation, Allawi develops a concept proposal. This includes:

• Preliminary sketches — hand-drawn studies exploring form, scale, and composition
• Material recommendations — bronze finish, patina colour, surface treatment
• Scale and siting guidance — how the work will relate to its intended space
• Timeline and investment overview — a realistic picture of process and cost

The proposal is a starting point, not a contract. It is designed to open a dialogue, not close one. Revisions and redirections at this stage are entirely normal and expected.

Step Three: Agreement and Deposit

Once the concept is agreed, a formal commission agreement is signed. This document covers the scope of the work, the agreed timeline, payment schedule, and delivery and installation arrangements.

A deposit — typically 40% of the total commission value — is required to begin production. This covers the cost of materials and the initial modelling phase.

Step Four: The Making

Bronze sculpture is a slow art. A commission of moderate scale — a horse sculpture between 60cm and 120cm — typically takes between three and five months from the start of modelling to the delivery of the finished cast.

The process moves through several stages:

• Clay modelling — the form is built by hand in clay, allowing maximum control over surface, texture, and detail
• Mould making — a rubber and plaster mould is taken from the clay original
• Wax casting — molten wax is poured into the mould to create a wax positive
• Investment casting — the wax form is encased in ceramic shell and fired; the wax burns out, leaving a cavity into which molten bronze is poured
• Finishing — the cast bronze is chased, refined, and the patina is applied by hand

Throughout this process, Allawi maintains open communication with the commissioner. Photographs of work in progress are shared at key stages, and adjustments to surface detail or patina can be discussed before the work is finalised.

Step Five: Certificate and Documentation

Every commissioned work is delivered with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by the artist, along with full documentation of the commission — including the original sketches, a record of materials used, and provenance information for the collector's records.

For institutional commissions, additional documentation for insurance and archival purposes can be provided on request. Browse original artworks already available for immediate acquisition.

Step Six: Delivery and Installation

Allawi's studio manages the logistics of delivery for works within Qatar and the GCC. For international commissions, specialist art shipping and crating is arranged in coordination with the commissioner.

For large-scale or site-specific installations, the artist is available to oversee placement and installation directly. This is particularly important for works intended for architectural settings, where the relationship between the sculpture and its environment is a critical part of the work's meaning. Read more about public art installations in Doha.

A Note on Waiting

The most common question commissioners ask, after the first conversation, is: Is it worth the wait?

The answer, in every case, is yes. A bronze sculpture made to your brief, by an artist working at the height of his powers, for a space you know and a purpose you have defined — that is not a purchase. It is a permanent addition to the world.

To begin a commission enquiry, visit the commissions page or contact the studio directly. Ahmed Allawi welcomes enquiries from private collectors, interior designers, architects, hospitality groups, and public institutions. Read more about collecting original art or the art of bronze horse sculpture.