Raised in Nantes alongside his ten siblings, the artist Rémi Blanchard embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Initially pursuing studies in mechanical engineering, he later enrolls at the School of Fine Arts in Quimper during the late seventies. By the early eighties, he has established himself in Paris. A recent graduate of the art academy, the young Blanchard joins a group of artists who would eventually become known as the ‘Figuration Libre’ movement. His highly personal painting style greatly contributes to this new art movement. Drawing inspiration from mythology, history, the universe of stories, and his own childhood, Blanchard creates vibrant and powerful works of art. His recognizable figures and symbols appear consistently in all of his works. Deer, feline creatures, birds, humans in animal form, circus figures, and caravans are frequent motifs. Primordial elements such as the sun and fire, as well as Eastern symbols, also make regular appearances. As his career progresses, the human figure takes on a more prominent role in Blanchard’s art. His paintings often feature characters reading, sleeping, or reclining, clearly seeking a sense of tranquility. Blanchard employs a simple palette of lively and bright colors. His early works are characterized by expressive, loose brushstrokes. Later on, his style becomes smoother and more stylized, with defined color blocks and clear contours. Blanchard’s intimate images blur the lines between dream and reality, nostalgia and magic, poetry and a certain cruelty. His body of work shows influences from masters such as Vincent van Gogh, Fernand Léger, Henri Mattise and Gaston Chaissac. Blanchard exhibits his work in galleries all over Europe. From 1981 onwards, he also spends time and showcases his art in America and Japan. In the early nineties, a fire destroys his storage space and workshop in Paris, resulting in the destruction of many of his works. The artist passes away at a young age in Paris in 1995.
www.ftn-books.com has several titles on Blanchard available.
