The life and work of Rémi Blanchard, born in 1958 in Nantes, take on a special significance on the occasion of Hervé Di Rosa's retrospective at the Musée Beaubourg.

Blanchard, a French artist whose career was brutally interrupted, began his artistic journey at the Beaux-Arts in Quimper before settling in Paris in the early 80s. Alongside fellow artists, including Bernard Frize, he set up his own studio near the Quays of the Stage, a place tragically reduced to ashes, taking with him a substantial part of his creative legacy.

In 1981, Rémi Blanchard flew to New York, exhibiting frequently between Paris, New York, San Francisco and Japan. His nomadic life came to an abrupt end in 1993 in Paris, at the age of 35, struck down by an overdose.

Bohemian influence and Figuration Libre

Blanchard's early artistic years were marked by the legacy of 19th-century masters such as Van Gogh and Matisse, exploring his memories of growing up in a large family.
However, his travels to San Francisco in the 80s introduced Blanchard to the influence of the Beatniks, shaping his artistic approach towards Figuration Libre. This movement, characterized by total freedom of expression and a rejection of intellectual elitism, found in Blanchard a major player, alongside François Boisrond and Robert Combas.

A key figure in contemporary painting

Despite his short career, Rémi Blanchard's memory lives on thanks to the "Association des Amis de Rémi Blanchard". At the time of the Hervé Di Rosa retrospective at the Musée Beaubourg, Blanchard is celebrated as a major figure in French contemporary art. His works, often imbued with a childlike aesthetic, continue to captivate art lovers and are regularly exhibited in public and private collections.
The iconic "Sumo" canvas, with its thick contours and vivid colors, embodies the singularity of Blanchard's artistic approach, blending nostalgia and modernity.

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In this period of retrospective dedicated to Hervé Di Rosa at the Musée Beaubourg, this tribute to Blanchard underscores the importance of preserving the memory of artists who died too soon.