ALAIN BONNEFOIT (France)

I love working lengthwise and width-wise. I love ample, generous, dashing movements. One should always avoid blocked, stunted, inhibited, breathless gestures. As in martial arts, the quality of breathing is essential for achievement. I would say that it is necessary to dominate not only the drawing, but also the matter that serves as support. This technique is physical and sensual. The strokes on the paper must necessarily be powerful, determined, instinctive.
--Alain Bonnefoit

The sensuality of the female nude, the same sensuality found in the landscapes of France and Italy when viewed en plein air, is found throughout Bonnefoit’s work. He searches for and finds the sublime beauty of the body, expressed in simple yet sophisticated form, while capturing lightness and dimension through positive and negative color-relief compositions. A woman’s essence, a creation of nature so essential, powerful and free, is painted in Bonnefoit’s masterful style. His love of the landscape and female sensuality continues to inspire moments of highest bliss.

The land has the rhythm and the sweetness I find back when I am painting a bare woman...I can breathe what I put on the canvas. --Alain Bonnefoit

STUDIES:

- 1953-1955: Ecole des Arts Appliques, Paris
- 1956-1957: Ecole des Beaux Arts, Paris
- 1959-1960: Ecole des Beaux Arts, Bruxelles
- 1961-1962: Ecole des Arts Appliques, Paris
- Studied with the sculptor, Volti

MUSEUMS:

- Tokyo, Bizen, Fujiwara Yu in Japan
- Modern Art Museum of Kwan Ju Korea
- Boccaccio Museum of Certaldo, Italy
- Collections of the State of France and the city of Paris

PRINCIPALES EXPOSITIONS EN FRANCE:

- Maison Van Gogh, Auvers sur Oise : 1968
- Galerie d’Art Matignon, Paris : 1969-1972
- Galerie du Moulin de Vauboyen, Bievres : 1974
- Galerie d’Art de la Place Beauvau, Paris : 1975, 1978-1981
- Galerie St. Pierre le Jeune, Strasbourg : 1985-1989
- Galerie du Capricorne, Reims : 1985-1989
- Galerie Triade, Barbizon : 1987
- Château du Croc, Orléans : 1988
- Hôtel Chemellier, Angers - Volti – Bonnefoit : 1988
- Hôtel Lutetia, Paris : 1991
- Hôtel de la Monnaie, Paris : 1991
- Galerie Albert 1st, Paris : 1991
- Galerie Robin Leadouze, Cannes : 1992
- Galerie Robin Leadouze, Paris : 1993, 1999
- Chapelle des Jésuites, Chaumont : 1995
- Château Vascueil – Rétrospective : 1996
- Galerie St. Hubert, Presqu’lle, Lyon : 1996
- Galerie Laetitia Brie Comte Robert : 1997
- Galerie Ami des lettres Bordeaux : 1997
- Art World Gallery, Cannes: 1997
- Galerie du Château, Auray : 1997, 2004
- Galerie Portal, St Jean de Luz : 1998, 2002, 2005
- Junko Koshino Boutique, Paris : 1998
- Galerie de l’Estuaire, Le Havre : 1998
- Galerie Raugraff, Nancy: 1998, 2001, 2004
- Mairie du XI, Paris : 1999
- Galerie l’Ami des Lettres, Bordeaux : 2000
- Crédit Mutuel de Bretagne, Brest : 2000, “Orient-Occident” : 2001
- Galerie Saint Hubert, Lyon : 2000, 2007
- Espace Champagne Palmer Reims: Orient-Occident, 4 Painters: 2000
- Galerie Alfa-C. Lemonnier, Le Havre : 2002
- Galerie Art Comparaison, Paris : 2002
- Galerie Véronèse, Nantes : 2002
- De Corée en Champagne, Reims : 2003
- Galerie Laetitia, Brie-Comte-Robert : 2003
- Galerie Karin Carton, Versailles : 2003
- Galerie Le Mas de Garance, Grillon : 2003
- L’Artothèque, Granville : 2004
- Galerie Gantois, Cannes : 2005
- Galerie Alexandre Leadouze, Paris : 2006

PRINCIPAL EXPOSITIONS EN AUTRE COUNTRIES:

ETATS UNIS
Red Bank, New Jersey
- Chetkin Gallery1996, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2015

ITALIE
Pisa
- Galerie Macchi, 1968, 1971, 1974
Venezia
- Galerie Albano, 1971
Sienne
- Galerie Nuova Aminta, 1972
- Art Gallery Biale & Cerruti, 2002
Milano
- Art Cantini, 1973
Roma
- Art Expo, 1990
- Galleria Ca D’Oro, 2002
Firenze
- Galerie Tornabuono, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2004
- Galerie de l’Arno, 1967, 1976
- Retrospective Certaldo – Palazzio Prettorio, 1996
- Certaldo – Orient – Occident: 4 Painters, 2000
- Museo Marino Marini, 2007
Napoli
- Casina Pompeiana, 2001
Pietrasanta
- Chiesa di Sant’Agostino, 2001
- Galleria Tornabouoni, 2001, 2006
Prato
- Galleria Armanda Gori, 2003
Livorno
- Fondazione Trossi Uberti, 2004
Bologna
- Nt art gallery, 2004
Matera
- Santa Maria de Armenis, 2005
Lerici
- Hotel Shelley e delle Palme

GRAND DUCHE DU LUXEMBOURG
- Galerie Engel, Ministère de Grand Duché, 1994
- Galerie Art et Passion, Esch sur Alzette, 1994, 1997
- Wagner et Schortgen Fine Arts, Luxembourg, 1998

BELGIQUE
- Bruxelles, Galerie Horizon, 1994, 1997
- Anvers, BernArt Galerie, 2003

SUISSE
- Lausanne, Galerie d’Etraz, 1990
- Martigny, Galerie la Tour, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1995
- Genolier Nyon, Au Temps Qui Passe, 1998
- Montreux, La Galerie, 2004

JAPON
Tokyo
- Art Expo: 1990, 1992
- Gas Urban – Tokyo: 2000, 2001, Orient/Occident, 4 Painters
- Park Tower Gallery 2001
Kyoto
- Musée Damaru, 1994

TAHITI
- Musée Gauguin, 1987
- Mairie de Papeete, 1992, 1997

COREE
- Galerie Indeco Seoul, 1997, 1998
- Shinsegae Gallery Kwangju, 1997
- Sun Gallery Seoul, 2000
- Musée Art Moderne Kwangju, 2001
- Seoul, My Art Gallery, 2002

DEUTSCHLAND
- Düsseldorf, Galerie FG Gonzen, 2003
- Frankfort, Galerie FG Gonzen, 2003
- Duisburg, Galerie Kugel, 2004

ANGLETERRE
- London, La Galerie, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

(Please contact the gallery for additional works available.)