Was born in Paris in 1973. Lives and works in Clermont-Ferrand.
Keymi (Mickey in slang) started to paint in 1990. He grew up during the hip hop trend and made his first fresco and graffiti using spray in 1992. After his studies in art history at Clermont Ferrand University, he became an artist and try new techniques like aerographs, watercolor, or acrylic paintings between 1995 and 1998. Those new mediums made his artworks richer, his technique became unique, and he started a new visual identity very different from the traditional graffiti.
Keymi is inspired by famous illustrators like Giger, Alien’s maker, Franck Frazetta, Boris Valejo, Brom, Gil Elvgren, Alberto Vargas, Sorayama Luis Royo and by calligraphists such as Claude Médiavilla, Hassan Massoudi, Fabienne Verdier. He is also interested in comics and manga even if he likes paintings and landscape of classicism. He likes baroque frescos and the rococo churches although he also appreciates 20th century painting and custom and tattoo aesthetics.
His graffiti falls into two categories: characters and lettering. In the 2000s, he covered the gray walls of Clermont Ferrand with no fewer than 172 works. Initially created without authorization, his graffiti gradually gained the goodwill of the authorities, with municipal services instructed not to erase them. Tirelessly in search of a place with a history, an atmosphere, he paints on buildings that he believes are the only evidence of our passage on earth, as if he wanted to fight time and make what he paints timeless.
In 2009, the discovery of how to cut polystyrene marked a turning point, enabling him to create his first puzzle shapes, which would become his trademark. Constantly on the lookout for new techniques and know-how, his work never ceases to evolve in terms of volume, texture and subject matter. From the pin-ups that made his name to Abstract Calligraphies or Cacophonies and Rumeurs (a mix of pop, manga, film, graffiti and typographic influences), he is now moving towards greater abstraction and contemporary inspiration.
His work has been exhibited at Galerie Artima since 2011, as well as in Europe and the United States.
Exhibitions:
2025
Capharnaüm – Solo exhibition – Galerie Artima
Palimpseste – Group show – Le Soute – Cusset
Art des villes art des champs – Group show – La Lisière – Neschers
AAF – Brussels – Galerie Artima
District 13 Art Fair- Galerie Christiane Vallé – Paris
2024
Variations par Keymi – Solo exhibition – Galerie Christiane Vallé – Clermont Ferrand
Galerie Deza – Group show – Roanne
AAF – Brussels – Galerie Artima
Galerie Arnaud Rogez – Group show – Lille
L’Autre Galerie – Group show – Nancy
2023
Métamorphose urbaine – Group show – Galerie Christiane Vallé – Clermont Ferrand
Installation Deus Ex Machina Key – Galerie Christiane Vallé
Compositions abstraites – Solo exhibition – Galerie Artima – Paris
AAF Battersea – Galerie Artima – London
Château de Val – Solo exhibition – Bort-Bort-les Orgues
2022
Mo n’ Key pop – Galerie Artima – Paris
AAF Battersea – Galerie Artima – London
2021
Charity sales – Fondation Brigitte Bardot – Rossini – Paris
AAF Battersea – Galerie Artima – London
Le Soute – Graffiti et Art Urbain -Vichy
Mo n’ Key pop #4 – Galerie Christiane Vallé – Clermont Ferrand
AAF London – Galerie Artima – Paris
2020
Petits plaisirs – Galerie Artima – Paris
Rumor has it – Solo show – Galerie Artima – Paris
Galerie Christiane Vallé – Tokyo
Galerie Deza – Roanne
Bear Galerie – Uzès
AAF Battersea Spring – Galerie Artima – London
2019
Solo show – Galerie Artima – Paris
AAF New York – Artered Gallery – NYC
AAF Hampstead – Galerie Artima – London
Mo n’ Key pop #2 – Clermont Ferrand
Design – Group show – Galerie Artima – Paris
Lexus – Aubière
2018
AAF Singapore – Artered Gallery – SG
Graff – exposition personnelle – Galerie Deza – Roanne
Cacophonies #2 – Galerie Artima – Paris
Street Art – Group show with Zenoy, Jo di Bona – Galerie Artima – London
French Pop – Group show – Foxx gallery – Zürich
2017
Galerie Burkhard Eikelman – Düsseldorf
Black & White – Group show – Galerie Artima – Paris
AAF Lausanne
Galerie Artima – London
Bear Galerie – Uzès
AFF London – Galerie Artima
Pin-Up – Group show with Jörg Döring – Galerie Artima – Paris
Artered gallery – New York
2016
Collection particulière – Galerie Artima – Paris
Cacophonie #1 – solo show – Galerie Artima – Paris
Clermont Urban Graff
Connexion française – solo show – Urbane Art – Edinburgh
AAF London – Galerie Artima
Les Arts en Balade – Clermont-Ferrand
2015
Trans’urbaines 2015 – Clermont-Ferrand
Galerie Petitjean – Lyon
The Aberdeen Art Fair – Urbane Art – Edinburgh
AAF Battersea London – Galerie Artima
Pin up et graffitis – solo show – Galerie Artima – Paris
AAF Bruxelles – Bear galerie
2014
St-Art – Strasbourg – Bear galerie
AFF London – galerie Artima
Trans’urbaines 2014 – Clermont Ferrand
Bear galerie – group show – Uzès
ART3F – Montpellier – Bear Galerie
Keep calm and love street art – Group show – Galerie Géraldine Zberro – Paris
2013
Galerie Cour intérieure – Clermont-Ferrand
AFF London – galerie Artima
Félix & Co – Group show – Château d’Hauterive – Issoire
Solo exhibition – Galerie Artima – Paris
2012
Galerie Cour intérieure – Clermont-Ferrand
Bear Galerie – Uzès
2011
Galerie Artima – Paris
2009
Solo exhibition – Clermont-Ferrand
2008
Opening of the 100m² – permanent exhibition with the artist Yoco and Marjorie Herréro
Solo exhibition – Espace Victoire – Clermont-Ferrand
2007
Edition of a book: 3 years of painting in the streets of Clermont-Ferrand
Solo show – Eglise Neuve – Entraigues
Guest of honor – group show – Cusset
Trans’urbaines – graffiti coordinator – Clermont-Ferrand
Rencontres graff – artistic director – La Roche-Blanche
Group show with the artists of the du Puy de Dôme
Exhibition at the Abattoirs – Riom
2006
Group show – OPAC – Puy de Dôme
Solo show – Commentry
2005
Marché d’art contemporain de Bastille – Paris
Solo show – ESC – Clermont-Ferrand
Solo show – Orcet
2004
Shanghai Art Fair – CHN
Work on the construction site of the streetcar – Clermont-Ferrand
Solo exhibition – Mairie – Le Cendre
Solo exhibition – Montluçon
Galerie L’Antilope – Lyon – Solo exhibition
2003
Solo show – la Roche Blanche Graffiti Fair of la Roche Blanche – artistic director since 2003
2001
Solo show – Mairie de Clermont-Ferrand