Christèle Lefay

1.How do you work on your paintings?

I work on large formats, with acrylic paint, most often on the ground. I am inspired by old books on plant biology, photos, memories of landscapes, but especially by the nature that surrounds us. I do not work on the motif. I paint rather fragments of plants, layers of rocks, grasses…, with simple forms oscillating between the abstract and the figurative. I search, draw, take back, tear, simplify the composition. I use a liquid paint and I apply it in many layers. Thanks to this, the canvas is built up little by little. I put the colour in flat, it is the link between the background and the form.

 

2. Why did you decide to become an artist?

During my studies, I hesitated between sciences and Fine Arts, finally the Arts took over. I have indeed an attraction for the sciences. I appreciate the stories of explorers and scientific popularizers such as Hubert Reeves, Ernst Haeckel, Charcot… I am attracted to wide open spaces and colour, so I instinctively turned to painting. What seems important to me is to first observe and then experiment, reflect and transmit. This approach is closer to the scientist, but it opens the mind of the painter that I am.

 

3.What inspires you in your creation ?

I am inspired by plants and particularly by the tiny, the microscopic. Thanks to this loss of reference, I bring a new vision that allows us to better understand Nature. I am also sensitive to the many issues facing our planet. Through my
painting, I try to show all its beauty and to awaken the consciences. It is a peaceful action, but necessary, because we are all concerned and responsible. Nature is beautiful and makes me dream.

Let’s keep this precious balance, Nature is our ally!

 

Training

School of Fine Arts in Angers. DNSEP option art in 1993

Exhibitions

2021
— Exhibition at Ateliers cours Duplessis, Versailles
— Look and breathe at the Anticafé, Art New Wave event, Lyon

2020
Opening of the artists’ studios, Versailles

2018
Paper arts (return and continuation), Arteva event, Nantes

2016
Nature(s), Artquest gallery, Paimpol
Artothèque St Cloud

2015
— The Small Formats, gallery “À Vous de Voir”, St Mathurin sur Loire
— Endowment fund of the Versailles hospital center, Espace Richaud
— Group exhibition of the arts of 9ᵉ and 18ᵉ, Lycée Jacques Decour

2014
— Solo exhibition, Atelier la Gouge et le Pinceau, Paris 18ème
— Small formats, AVV gallery, St Mathurien sur Loire
— Nov’art, contemporary art trail, Villevêque
— The Illustrations, La Vagabonde bookstore, Versailles

2013
– Regards croisés”, collective exhibition, café des Négociants, Nantes
– La nuit tous les chats sont gris”, collective exhibition, Manufacture des Tabacs, Nantes

2012
“Baroque Exuberance”, group show, Centre de Musique Baroque, Versailles

2010
— Project “comic opera and plastic arts”, St Elisabeth school, Paris
— Group exhibition, galerie de la sirène, Le Mans

2009
— “Microcosm of plants”, FIT company space, Nantes
— Project “Small stories of art”, St Joseph school, Le Mans
— “The other ephemeral gallery”, Le Mans
— The small market of our 16 years, gallery le Rayon vert, Nantes

2008
— “Landscape”, collective exhibition, le Rayon vert gallery, Nantes
— “Vegetal”, gallery la sirène, Le Mans

2007
— Drawing, La Sirène gallery, Le Mans
— Gallery le Rayon Vert, “Petit marché de l’art”, Nantes
— The “Arts Papiers”, Château de la Groulais, Blain

2006 Le temple du goût gallery, personal exhibition, Nantes

2005

Château de la Groulais, Blain

2004

— Gallery le Rayon Vert, “Eloge de la couleur”, Nantes

—  La Laverie Gallery, personal exhibition, La Ferté-Bernard

2003

— Gallery le Rayon Vert, “Petit marché de l’art”, Nantes

— Ephémère Gallery, Le Mans

2002

Michael Page exhibition, Nantes

2001

—”Idea of nature in contemporary art”,
Project with the Beausoleil school, Cesson-Sévigné

—”Kunst supermarkt”, Berlin-Frankfurt

— Jean Boucher Gallery, Cesson-Sévigné

2000

“Kunst supermarkt”, Frankfurt

1998

Meissner Gallery, Frankfurt

1997

“Végétations”, Café Littéraire Ypsillon, Frankfurt