Was born in 1986 in Liège (Belgium). Lives and works in Lille
Claire Fanjul has been drawing since childhood and exhibited for the first time at the age of 16. In parallel to a master’s degree in Fine Arts, then a thesis, she developed her artistic practice and learned the different techniques of engraving and etching. From the chisel to the graphic palette, from the pen dipped into ink to the Posca marker, Claire loves nothing more than to switch from one tool to another and to experiment with all types of media. She engraves and draws on paper to which she remains very attached for the great freedom it offers her, but also on three-dimensional objects such as ostrich eggs, ceramic skulls, wooden spheres or pieces of Design furniture. She also creates graphic works for luxury brands or illustrates children’s books.
To give shape to her dreams, Claire Fanjul draws her inspiration from the repertoire of Flemish and German primitive artists but also from everyday life. Her style constantly evolves. Humans have gradually disappeared from her compositions in favour of a hybrid and fantastic fauna, reminiscent of the bestiaries of the Middle Ages, inhabiting improbable and fascinating architecture.
Cross-hatchings, dots, grids, wefts and stippling are the foundation of her graphic vocabulary that she constantly completes with new elements. In 2018, hypnotized by ancient marine maps, she created imaginary worlds populated by a wide variety of monsters, as well as a new alphabet. This new series entitled Utopia made with Posca on massive linden-wood spheres was exhibited at the Museum of the Halle Saint Pierre in 2019.
She regularly exhibits in Paris, Brussels and New York.
Solo shows and collaborations (selection):
2021
Le Nouveau Monde – Galerie Artima – Paris
2020
Les Utopies de Claire Fanjul – Galerie Artima – Paris – FR
Drawing for a sill scarf entitled La Folle Parade – edited by Hermès Paris – FR
2018
Illustration of the musical tale Les Bottes de Sept Lieues – Little Village – Harmonia Mundi – FR
2012
Le Grand Fooding New York 2012 – illustrations – New York – USA
2011
Spring Tondo – drawing printed on a cashmere scarf – Ahilya – London – GB
2009
Fluctuat nec mergitur – pen drawings – Galerie Alfa – Paris 6e – FR
Group exhibitions (selection):
2021
Art 22 Gallery – Bruxelles – B
Auction Sale / La Source. Goliath – Solvay diverted – ed. Vitra – Paris – FR
2020
D-Dessin Art Fair – Paris
2019
Hey! Act 4 – international art show – Musée La Halle Saint Pierre – Paris – FR
AAF Brussels – Art22 Gallery – Brussels – B
Art Market SF – Azart Gallery NYC – San Francisco – USA
Auction sale / La Source. Goliath – Bench diverted – G. Nelson – Vitra – Paris – FR
2018
Scope Miami Beach – Azart Gallery NYC – Miami – USA
Pop Up – Azart Gallery – New York – USA
Borders – exhibition with Magdalena Lamri – drawings – Detais Gallery – Paris – FR
AAF Brussels – Art22 Gallery – Brussels – B
Contemporary art fair Lille Art Up! – Art22 Gallery – Brussels – B
Auction sale / La Source. Source’s land – Plate Table dessinée – J. Morrison – ed. Vitra – Paris
2017
Art on Paper Show – Azart Gallery NYC – New York – USA
AAF Brussels – Art22 Gallery – Brussels – B
Contemporary art fair Lille Art Up! – Art22 Gallery – Brussels – B
Auction sale / La Source. Wading bird – Stool Stool 60 détournés – Alvar Aalto – ed. Vitra – Paris – FR
2016
AAF Brussels – Art22 Gallery – Brussels – B
Group exhibition – Art22 Gallery – Brussels – B
Auction sale / La Source. Felidae – stool Cork diverted – J. Morrison – ed. Vitra – Paris
2015
Scope NYC art show – Life gallery – New York – USA
Contemporary art fair Lille Art Up! – Art22 Gallery Brussels – Grand Palais – Lille – FR
AAF Brussels – Art22 Gallery – Brussels – B
Auction sale / La Source. Egg nest – ostrich egg on the Eames Wire Chair – Vitra – Paris – FR
2014
AAF Hampstead – Cynthia Corbett Gallery – London – GB
Select Fair NYC – gallery Life as a Work of Art – New York – USA
Elles – drawings – Mazel Gallery – Brussels – B
Drawing Now – Contemporary Drawing Salon – Mazel Galerie – Carreau du Temple – Paris – FR
A look at my city – Maison de l’architecture et de la ville – Lille – FR
Creators’ faces – auction / Unicef – Lady Macbeth – Théâtre du Châtelet – Paris
Auction sale / La Source. Ducky – Butterfly stool diverted – Sori Yanagi – Vitra – Paris
2013
Soon – drawings at the Posca – Mazel Galerie – Brussels – B
Contemporary Drawing Now – Mazel Galerie – Carrousel du Louvre – Paris – FR
Promises?! – ink drawing – Espace le Carré – Lille – FR
May of the print – engravings – L’Harmattan – Lille – FR
Auction sale / La Source. Steamy Dragon – Standard chair by J. Prouvé – Vitra – Paris
2012
Tensions – ink drawings – Mazel Galerie – Brussels – B
Lille Art Fair – Association des Conservateurs des Musées du Nord-Pas-de-Calais – Lille – FR
Happy Birthday Marilyn – drawings – Mazel Galerie – Brussels – B
Paper project – prints – Centre d’arts plastiques et visuels – Lille – FR
Auction sale / La Source. Pipe Mania – Metal side table – Bouroullec – Ed. Vitra – Paris
2011
Zoo O Logis – ink drawings – Mazel Galerie – Brussels – B
Remix 2 – Platform and tower – Mazel Galerie – Brussels – B
2010
Art X Mas – Mazel Galerie – Brussels – B
Drawings 4 – works on paper – Galerie Artegalore – Paris – FR
2009
Drawings 3 – tower and sketches – Artegalore Gallery – Paris – FR
Slick – Contemporary drawing fair – Atelier Richelieu – Galerie d’Ys – Paris – FR
2008
Europa in Leverkusen – Forum Gallery – Leverkusen – D
Bestiary – engravings and drawings – Ys Gallery – Brussels – B
Publications and TV:
2019 – Metropolis show – Workshop section – Arte TV – (France and Germany)
2018 – Hey! Modern art & pop culture – interview and portfolio – Ed. Ankama – Paris – FR
2012
Hey! Modern art & pop culture – interview and portfolio – Ed. Ankama – Paris – FR
Cursive n°2 – Revue Dessiner-tracer – Musenor & Ed. Analogues. Paris – FR
2009
Drawings – influences autumn/winter 2010-2011 – Indigo / Première vision – Paris – FR
Clap sur le cinéma – drawing published in Coltin graffik – éditions Siranouche – Paris – FR
2007 – Botanical review La Garance Voyageuse – carnivorous plants – C