Born in 1981 in La Ciotat. Lives and works in Marseille.
After graduating in visual communications and graphic arts in Marseilles in 2003, Michael Viviani moved to Paris for two years. In 2005, in London, he met Cyril Moumen, artist, curator and founder of the nomadic gallery Nosco, with whom he collaborated on various artistic projects for several years. A film buff and music enthusiast, he set out to find old film and music posters from the streets to create his first collages, inspired by Jacques Villeglé, who in the late 1940s appropriated posters torn up by anonymous people.
His practice, in particular that of laceration, gradually took shape, and he sublimated it by combining it with phrases, song lyrics or slogans. Navigating between the present and the past, his now-painted works are a perfect illusion, reproducing the life of a street billboard with its interplay of overlapping and abundance. In this way, he succeeds in fusing this urban art form with a new narrative.
More recently, Michael Viviani has diversified into new media such as sculpture and furniture. At the gallery, he presents his resin audio cassettes. A nod to technology, they conceal a QR code, giving access to a playlist via a smartphone.
Solo exhibitions:
2023
The show must go on – La Chaudronnerie – La Ciotat – FR
2014
Back in town – Manufacture 284c – Marseille – FR
2013
When the music is over – Manufacture 284c – Marseille – FR
Classé X – Gallery Seize – Marseille – FR
2012
18th November – GGGallery – London – GB
63 Bluxome Gallery – San Francisco – USA
2009
L’Oustau Calendal – Cassis – FR
2008
La Chapelle des Pénitents Bleus – La Ciotat – FR
Group show (selection):
2024
Galerie Artima – Paris – FR
Affordable Art Fair Brussels – Galerie Artima – B
2022
SIAC – Marseille – FR
2019
Gemlucart – Monaco
2017
Objects of Desire – the APART summer show – London – GB
2016
Winter Exhibition – The APART 2016 / Online – GB
2015
15 Years APART: Celebrating Apart’s 15th Birthday – London – GB
2014
The London Winter Show – Ap-Art Gallery – London – GB
2013
Manufacture 284c – Marseille – FR
The London Winter Show – Ap-Art Gallery – London – GB
Galerie Next – Toulouse – FR
The Apart Summer Exhibition – London – GB
2012
The Apart Winter Exhibition – London – GB
The Apartment – London – GB
Lawnfest Charity Event – Kent – GB
Circulo de Bellas Artes – Tenerife – ES
2011
63 Bluxome Gallery – San Francisco – USA
Lawnfest 2 Charity Event – Kent – GB
The Apart London Summer Show – London – GB
Jana Gallery – Paris – FR
The Affordable Art Fair – Brussels – B
2010
Lawnfest 2 Charity Event – Kent – GB
Apart Gallery celebrates 10 Years – London – GB
French Kiss – Hong Kong – CHN
Show at The Cobden Club – London – GB
2009
The Good The Bad and The Ugly – London – GB
Lawnfest 2 Charity Event – Kent – GB
Education:
2003 : Diploma in visual communication and graphic arts – Ecole Axe Sud – Marseille