Dear Painting Lovers turns out the Internet was too small for all the greatness, so we post the article in two parts. Please find here the second part of our great article about Contemporary French Painting!
As a French painter myself, I’ve wanted to tell you more about the scene for YEARS. Many are missing – Lévy-Lasne’s conference included about 120 artists – so a tough selection was made. In this article, I will introduce a panorama of the scene from my humble position without elaborating on each painter. Please check websites and links for more information.
French Painting is still mostly associated with modernism – or even impressionism. And indeed, when New York replaced Paris as the Capital of Contemporary Art after WWII, the painting scene started to seriously wilt – excepting lyrical abstraction that I am willingly setting aside.
In the ’80s, few were still talking about painting in France anymore. The Art Schools (Écoles des Beaux-Arts) in the ’90s and 00’s only taught seriously drawing and painting for one miserable year. Even when the students were interested, the teachers regularly pushed them over to other media. This is my experience, but also one of many colleagues I’ve encountered over the years. The Beaux-Arts de Paris kept some painting and drawing classes accessible, but they were clearly not the stars of the school.
But, surprisingly, painting survived and is now burgeoning with strength. As if this time of latency had prepared for a new beginning. Read Part 1 HERE
Michel Castaignet
Michel Castaignet, Der Schlachtplan, acrylic on canvas, 220 x 180 cm, courtesy of the artist
Michel Castaignet, Sonnenbaden, acrylic on canvas, 150 x 180 cm, 2018, courtesy of the artist
Next shows: until the 12th of March 2019, Frauwelt, Gallery Maksla XO, Riga
Link: castaignet.apps-1and1.net
Emmanuelle Castellan
Emmanuelle Castellan, big sketch for rainbow’s spectacle, oil on canvas, 220 x 180 cm, 2018, courtesy of the artist
Emmanuelle Castellan, elastic boards, oil on canvas, cuts, 92 x 62 cm, 2017, courtesy of the artist
Hervé Ic
Hervé Ic, Dormeur, FXL, 33 x 41 cm, 2015
Hervé Ic, La Leçon de Coiffure, 33 x 41 cm, 2018
Next shows:
22.03 2019, Le Comble Éditeur Portrait de Dos, Virton, Belgium
Link www.herveic.com
Fleur Helluin
Fleur ‚Helluin, Marianne, oil on canvas, 125 x 140 cm, 2017, courtesy of the artist
Fleur Helluin, Sink Symphonie, 63 x 96 cm, 2017, courtesy of the artist
Next show:
14.09 – 27.09 2019, Galerie AKA, Berlin
Link www.fleurhelluin.com
Nathanaëlle Herbelin
Nathanaëlle Herbelin, Autoportrait, oil on canvas, 30 x 40 cm, 2018, courtesy of the artist
Nathanaëlle Herbelin, The Shower, oil on canvas, 100 x 65 cm, 2018, courtesy of the artist
Next show:
until the 20.04 2019, Betonsalon, Paris
Link www.nathanaelleherbelin.com
Claire Tabouret
Claire Tabouret, From the Blue Sun, acrylic on canvas, 60 x 91 x 3,5 cm, 2018 © Marten Elder
Claire Tabouret, The Swimmer, acrylic on canvas, 130 x 90,5 x 4 cm, 2019 © Marten Elder
Next show:
27.04 – 08.09 2019, Eldorama. Lille 3000, Claire TABOURET, Ryan MCGINLEY, group show, Tripostal – Lille, France
Louisa Gagliardi
Louisa Gagliardi, Slow Motion Scheming,114.8 x 164.8 cm, Nail polish, Gel medium, Ink on PVC, 114.8 x 164.8 cm, 2017, Photography: Damian Griffiths, all images copyright and courtesy of the artist and Pilar Corrias, London
Louisa Gagliardi, Tense Shift, Ink on PVC, 114.8 x 164.8 cm, 2017, Photography: Damian Griffiths, all images copyright and courtesy of the artist and Pilar Corrias, London
Next show:
16.03 – 04.05 2019, Side Effects of Satisfaction, Rodolphe Janssen
Gallery, Brussels
Link louisagagliardi.com
Julie Tuyet Curtiss
Julie Tuyet Curtiss, Comb Through, Acrylic, vinyl and oil on canvas, 76 x 76 cm, 2019, photo: courtesy of the artist and Anton Kern Gallery
Julie Tuyet Curtiss, Piece of Cake, Acrylic, vinyl and oil paint on canvas, 101.6 x 81.3 cm, 2019, photo: courtesy of the artist and Anton Kern Gallery
Next show:
25.04 – 15.06 2019, Wildlife, Anton Kern Gallery, New York
Link www.juliecurtiss.com
to be continued …
Part 3 is coming next week. Watch the conference ‘Vitalité de la Peinture Contemporaine’
