(b Koblarë-Përmet, 30 Dec 1903; d Tiranë, 13 Feb 1985). Albanian sculptor. He laid the foundations of Albanian monumental realist sculpture and is considered one of the most outstanding Albanian sculptors of the 20th century. He made his first sculptures, among them the life-size The Starving (plaster, 1924; priv. col.), as a student of literature and history of art at the University of Turin (1922–7). On graduation, he studied with the sculptor Ruffino in Turin (1928). Paskali returned to Tiranë hoping to encourage the development of the visual arts in his country, and he became a founder-member of the national association Miqtë e Artit (‘Friends of Art’; 1931) and of the School of Drawing (1932) in Tiranë; the School was the first professional educational institution with a realist orientation. Paskali chose sculpture, rather than literature, as the most effective means of communicating with the Albanian people. He was primarily interested in the clear and immediate presentation of his ideas. His patriotism is forcefully reflected in such statues as the National Fighter (bronze, 1932; Korçë), a figure representing the Albanian struggle for independence, The Standard-bearer (bronze, 1932; Vlorë), which represents the Albanian proclamation of independence in 1912, and the portrait sculptures of Themistokli Gërmenji (bronze, 1932; Korçë) and Cerçiz Topulli (bronze, 1934; Gjirokastër), two heroic figures of the Albanian national renaissance.

• Paskali, Odhise
  • Albania, §IV: Sculpture
  • Albania, §X: Institutions and collections