Born: Grenoble, France, 1968. Resides in Toulouse, France

Following an extensive and successful career in advertising, in 2018 Francois Bonnel made the decision to devote himself full-time to his passion for painting and photography. In an impressively short period of time, he garnered favorable recognition for his paintings and was offered exhibitions across Europe, Australia and the United States. Lanoue Gallery is pleased to be the first gallery in the US to represent Bonnel. 

Interview: François Bonnel, Toulouse, France.  Courtesy of AbstractMag July 9, 2019

Tell us a bit about yourself, as far as we know, your artistic journey began 25 years ago?

In fact, I have always been immersed in the world of creation. My grandfather and my mother were already painting. During childhood, the first approach was very fun, painting  with the fingers, mixing colors and drawing random forms… For me it was very natural. I have always painted for pleasure and first figurative paintings to learn the basics… Then my paintings become  abstract. More and more often the relations who came home complimented me and encouraged me to share my work.

How did you manage to combine work and leisure, and what made you start an active artistic career?

For 25 years, I worked a lot for an advertising company… I learned about human relationships, communication and management. But the weekend, I needed  to clear my head and find a positive energy. Then I realized that the only thing that really made me want to get up in the morning was to paint… It became an emergency, almost an obligation for my balance. My family was great. They supported me to take the step to paint full time…

I created an Instagram account a year ago, and quickly, I had positive contacts with galleries, agents, art lovers and other artists… it encouraged me to go on… I started by exposing canvases in local gallery, it allowed me to gain legitimacy but very quickly I had much more contact by Instagram (especially AbstractMag)… This is the beginning of a beautiful story.

You always use various geometric shapes. What meanings do you put in them?

When I hang a painting on a wall, I want it to give me pleasure, an emotion (preferably positive…) and for me the curves and the bright colors bring this energy, the shadows bring them a contrast and a depth… It must be as simple as possible… I am not trying to convey a message. The emotion is what I am looking for. I do not paint for unanimity, but simply to please me and share this pleasure with some… For me a painting must be in harmony with its environment as a perfume or a music… it’s a matter of style…And my style will certainly evolve with time…

Tell us about your studio, where do you work?

I work at home in Toulouse, South West France. While waiting to find a workshop, I have the chance to paint in a large room of the house. But I’m starting to have storage problems. I love the spring days and the light.

What inspires you?

I spend time discovering other artists in galleries or on the Internet… Instagram also offers the possibility to follow the work of other painters. It’s very important for me, to learn, to explore new tracks and to improve myself. I like the minimalism of Ellsworth Kelly, the shadows of Keller, the colors of Anna Mac, the energy of Taylor A White, the sweetness of Yvonne Robert, the geometry of Frank Stella and the dynamics of Matisse… etc…

My inspiration I find it also in my daily environment… Nature does masterpieces, nothing is more inspiring.

No need for explanations to enjoy a tree, a sunset or find fun shapes in the clouds… For me the inspiration is there too…

The biography on your site says that music plays a big role in your paintings. What kind of music is it?

I love listening to music. It accompanies me every day. Music influences my mood. It’s a question of rhythm. I can listen to very different styles from Classical to Rap through Electro…

I particularly appreciate Beck for his eclecticism, Cameron Avery, Burt Bacharach, Scott Walker, Jonathan Jeremiah, Anderson Paak, Mac Miller, Serge Gainsbourg, Keren Ann, The Arctic Monkeys or Daft Punk… it’s impossible to quote everything…Often the influence is such that I pay tribute to artists by naming my paintings.

What are your plans for the rest of the year? Do you have exhibitions planned?

I would like to find a larger workshop to work on larger formats. I will continue to work in collaboration with beautiful galleries online and accept gallery exhibitions… staying in touch physically is essential. The “Sans” Gallery in Toulouse in July. Then Paris, Saint Tropez and Megève with L’Atelier 55. I have also some offers for exhibitions in galleries in New York, Brussels and Barcelona.

Thoughts that you would like to share with our readers?

Your readers are people who are already arts lovers… They already know all the pleasure that one can have when creating or  looking artworks… but personally the destiny of certain artists to influenced mine… I have long missed of confidence in me and therefore lost time in my artistic exploration… I encourage everyone to believe in themselves… This is what I want to share… as well as a good glass of wine and cheese!

Exhibitions

• 2024
• Gallery Lanoue Boston – Solo Show  » La Part Belle » 30 August -27 September 2024
• ART021 (Hong Kong) 28 Aout – 8 Septembre 2024
• Bluerider Gallery Taipei (Taiwan) Group Show « Golden Age » 13 Juillet-25 Aout 2024
• Cheryl Hazan Gallery New-York (USA) – Group Show – Abstract Modern II 22 JUN – 31 JUL  2024
• Bluerider Gallery Taipei (Taiwan) Solo Show  11 Mai- 30 Juin 2024
• Macadam Gallery Brussels (Belgium) 20 Avril-11 Mai Collective Exhibition « White Flag » 
• Art Amsterdam Kunstrai (NL) 27 Mars- 01 Avril 2024 (with Gallery Kol)

• 2023
• Art Miami (USA) 05-10 Dec 2023 (with Macadam Gallery)
• Bluerider Art London-Mayfair (United Kingdom) Exhibition « HOMELAND UNIVERSE » 9 September – 5 November, 2023
• Macadam Gallery Brussels (Belgium) 07 Juillet / 13 Aout Collective Exhibition "Summer Memories"
• Art Shanghai ( China) « Wild Grass » (with Bluerider Gallery)
• Cheryl Hazan Gallery New York (USA) – Solo Show 19 Mai – 30 Juin 2023
• AAF Brussels (Belgium) 08-12 Fev 2023
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• 2022
• Cheryl Hazan Gallery New York (USA) – Group Show- « Open-Ended » 11 Nov-30 Dec 2022
• Bluerider (Taiwan ) – ART Taipei Octobre 2022
• Gallery Lanoue Boston (USA) – Solo Show – 24Juin – 31 Aout 2022
• Macadam Gallery Brussels (Belgium) 23 Avr – 15 Mai Collective exhibition "UNEARTHLY"
• Cheryl Hazan Gallery New York (USA) – Group Show- « Out There » 22 Avril 2022 
• AAF Brussels 23-27 March 2022
• Macadam Gallery Brussels (Belgium) – Solo Show « Intersection » 18 Fev -13 Mar 2022 

• 2021
• Kol Art Gallery ( with Geraldine Kol ) -The Hague- (NL) Dec 2021
• Roman Sviridov Gallery  (Group Show)  – Milano –  (Italy) Nov 2021- Reporté à une date ultérieure .
• AAF Brussels 22-26 Sept 2021
• Gallery Red -Palma de Majorca- Summer 2021 
• Gallery Lanoue Boston (USA) June 2021
• Macadam Gallery Brussels (Belgium) 05-21 March 2021 

• 2020
• Piermarq Gallery Sydney (Australia) 26 Nov-13 Dec 
• New real/unreal show « Round 4 » Copenhagen  (Denmark)
 Virtual show curated by Evan Trine @evanpaultrine – Peter Ibsen
• KunStrai Amsterdam (NL) December 2020
• Gallery Red -Palma de Mallorque- (Espagne) Juillet 2020 
• Lille ArtUp 05 au 08 Mars 2020
• Miami Art Fair (USA) with Boccara Rugs Dec 2020 
• Galerie Sans ( Toulouse) – Solo Show- 4 Nov  2019- 04 Janv 2020

• 2019
• Expo Photos « Carré Rouge » (Toulouse) Nov 2019 Article Culture 31
• WTC The Hague Gallery (NL)  Gallery website
• Art The Hague (Netherland) 02-06-2019  Video ART The Hague
• 111 des Arts (Toulouse)
• Boccara Art 2019 (Artworks and Rugs) (Paris – London – New York)
• Amélie Maison d’Art 2019(Paris – London) Portrait « Artiste du mois »    
• AbstractMag 2018  

• 2018
• IXI Art Galerie (Toulouse)

Select Collections:
• Bellagio (Las Vegas) 2023
• Longchamps 2022
• Collection Gille (Brussels) 2021
• L’Oréal (Paris) 2021
• Louis Vuitton (New-York) 2020