BIOGRAPHY
French, b. 1944
Born in Paris in 1944, to a family of antique dealers and sculptors, Louis started out as a wood sculptor in his family trade. His display of talent led to commissions to restore fine Boulle furniture and later the opportunity to restore paintings by masters such as Perugino and Tintoretto. In 1967 Louis painted and sculpted in Central Italy, where he also worked on restoring works by Perugino and Tintoretto. He did extensive fresco work in several chapels in Italy and Switzerland.
Louis was later accepted to the prestigious École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts. While in Paris, he met surrealist innovator Salvador Dalí and was moved by his ingenious ability to transmit his wild imagination into paintings. Although influenced by Dalí, an early friendship with William Congdon, a member of New York’s “Action Painting” school of the 1940s (of which Jackson Pollack was also a member) was Louis’ principal inspiration. This was a break from abstract expressionism to the process itself of painting freely. Jaquet was later recognized in important Italian art catalogues for his “Homage to Jackson Pollock”.
In 1972, Louis graduated from the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts which marked the beginning of his world traveling and painting. Louis feels, for himself, travels are a necessity. Traveling feeds his creativity and provides answers to his inner questions.
The seventies saw him through the Middle East, Afghanistan, Turkey, and India. The richness of the experiences acquired in these countries and Israel gave him a deep faith in human resilience and the essential beauty of humanity. In India he learned to create his own oil paint by mixing in organic pigments and natural elements, adding life to his subjects. His paintings are tapestries of color ranging from the soft luminescence of dream-like pastels to richly layered jewel tones embedded with quartz and gold. The myriad of experience and creative focus lends innocence to Louis’ painting that comes only from mature introspection.
Louis Jaquet continues to travel extensively. He maintains a studio in Italy (where he has exhibited regularly since the 70’s). He also maintains studios in Southern France and Paris. He is listed in the prestigious Benezit, the encyclopedic directory of artists.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT:
“Memory becomes a gesture in painting. The more I search for values, the more difficult it is to execute it. Painting for me is an ethic movement which blossoms through the language of signs; a key that gives things their ethic. Beauty is found there.”
-Louis Jaquet
EDUCATION:
1965, Acedémie de la Grande Chaumière
1966, Académie Julian, Paris
1967-72, École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts, Paris
SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
2001, Yan Gallery, San Diego CA
2001, Ghelfi Gallery, Montecatini, Italy
2000, International Art Expo, Bolgna, Italy
2000, Ghelfi Gallery, Montecatini, Italy
1999, Gallerie 454, Michigan, USA
1998, Colonial Art Gallery, Oklahoma City
1997, Yan Gallery, San Diego, CA
1996, Norman Gallery, San Diego, CA
1995, Nicole Gallery, Chicago, IL
1994, Gallerie 454, Michigan, USA
1990, Baly-Gillin Gallery, Nimes, France
1987, La Chiara Gallery, Reggio Emilia, Italy
1987, Multicultural Arts Center, San Diego, CA
1986, Devonshire Gallery, La Jolla, CA
1985, San Bartolomeo Cultural Center, Bergamo, Italy
1984, San Ilario Cultural Center, Reggio Emilia, Italy
1983, Turin, Turin, Italy
1978, Asinelli Gallery, Bologna, Italy
1978, Il Navile Gallery, Bologna, Italy
1976, San Bartolomeo Cultural Center, Bergamo, Italy
1973, Karl Klinker Gallery, Paris, France
1973, Karl Flinker Gallery, Paris, France
EXHIBITIONS:
1993, Salon d’Automne, Paris, France
1992, Salon des Indépendants, Paris, France
1990, Gallerie 454, Michigan, USA
1990, Salon des Indépendants, Paris, France
1990, City of Nimes Expo, Nimes, France
1989, Schuler Gallery, Munich, Germany
1986, Dali-Miro Gallery, Mexico
1986, International Biennial Exhibition, Tsukuba, Japan
1985, International Biennial Exhibition, Tokyo, Japan
1984, International Biennial Exhibition, Zurich, Switzerland
1984, Royal Academy, London, England
1983, International Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary Art, Terme, Italy
1983, International Biennial Exhibition, Graphics Arts, Tokyo, Japan
1983, Exhibition of the Berlin City Hall, West Berlin, Germany
1983, Tel Aviv, Israel at invitation of the government of Israel, Tel Aviv, Israel
COLLECTIONS:
1996, Florence art critique, Piers Bigongiari
MEMBERSHIPS:
Maison des Artistes
Rothschild Foundation, Paris
AWARDS:
1994, Chosen artist, Children’s Hospital Benefit, Festival of Trees, USA
Special Distinction- International Biennial Exhibition, Tsubuka, Japan
1987, 1st Prize (Painting)- E.N.M.A. National Exhibition, Italy
1985, Zurich International Biennial Art Exhibitions
1985, 1st Prize International Graphic Art Exhibition, Tokyo, Japan
COMMISSIONS:
2008, Washington, D.C. Pope John Paul II Cultural Center Commissioned Portrait of Pope John Paul II
2006, National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland. Pope John Paul II
2004, Vatican Museum’s Permanent Collection, Pope John Paul II
1996, American Embassy in Paris
1985, Zurich Palais des Expositions fresco (11x13 meters), Swiss government
MUSEUMS:
Palais des Expositions, Zurich, Switzerland
Museum of Modern Art, Tel Aviv, Israel
Museo d’Arte Moderna, Bologna, Italy
Vatican Museum, Vatican City, Italy
Uffizi Museum, Florence, Italy
Palazzo Piti Museum in Florence, Italy