Born in Lyon in 1977. Lives and works in Capbreton (Landes)
François Bel is a multidisciplinary artist, equally at ease with painting, sculpture and installations. His work is as eclectic as his inspirations: influenced by Street Art, from which he borrows its system of repetition and variation, he is also interested in “New Realism” movements, which particularly appeal to him, as do Dada and Pop Art, for the way they subvert daily objects in order to criticise today’s consumer society, like Duchamp’s ready-mades.
François Bel re-appropriates each material, working in turn with nylon cord for his suspensions and wire for his sculptures. He makes play with the idea of compartmentalisation, enclosing some of his sculptures in wire mesh, condemning contemporary society yet again for its individualism and materialism.
In this way, each medium serves an approach that is both artistic and philosophical. His small “Big Bangs” set in synthetic crystal, as though frozen in the explosion’s ultimate moment of grace, make us reflect on passing time which is frittered away and undeniably survives us. In a society where everything happens increasingly quickly and mankind controls a great many things; François Bel crystallises every person’s dream by stopping time for an instant in his works. A mixture of frustration and fascination, his sculptures mirror our civilisation, anger and rebellion, imprisoned and confined in economic, cultural, social and political contexts.
François Bel is exhibited and collected in France and Europe, Korea, China, Hong Kong and the USA.
Exhibitions and fairs:
2025
Galerie Artima – Honfleur – FR
Galerie Sophie Le Mée – Ile de Ré – FR
AAF Stockholm – NO
Galerie Le Container – Aix-en-Provence – FR
AAF Wien – AU
AAF Berlin – D
Adelson Galleries – Palm Beach – USA
AAF Battersea – London – GB
AAF Brussels – BE
Fresh Art Fair London – GB
2024
Art Miami – Adelson Galleries – USA
Exposed – Solo show – Redsea gallery – Singapore – SG
Lausanne Art Fair – CH
AAF Hampstead – London – GB
Murmures des vagues – Group show – Galerie Platini – Veyrier du Lac – FR
Galerie Le Container – Aix-en-Provence – FR
Un été enchanté – Group show – Galerie Sophie Le Mée – Ile de Ré – FR
Urban Art Fair – Galerie Le Container – Paris – FR
Luxembourg Art Fair – LU
AAF Battersea – London – GB
La vie est belle -Group show – Galerie Sophie Le Mée – Ile de Ré 6 FR
AAF Brussels – BE
Brussels Art Fair – BE
2023
Art Miami – Adelson Galleries – USA
Artistes en hiver – Group show – Galerie Sophie Le Mée – Ile de Ré
Contemporary Art Fair Paris – FR
Lausanne Art Fair – CH
Adelson galleries – NYC – USA
AAF Hampstead – London – GB
Urban Art Fair – Galerie Le Container – Paris – FR
Luxembourg Art Fair – LU
AAF Battersea – London – GB
2022
District 13 Art Fair – Paris
Art Market Hamptons – USA
Volta Basel – CH
AAF Hampstead – London – GB
Markowicz Fine Art – Miami – USA
AAF NYC – USA
AAF Battersea – London – GB
Contemporary Art Fair Paris – FR
2021
Context Art Miami – USA
Galerie Artima – Group show – Paris – FR
Lausanne Art Fair – CH
AAF Hamburg – D
AAF Battersea – GB
Time stands still – Solo show – Redsea Gallery – Singapore – SG
Galerie 337 – Megève et Genève – FR/CH
AAF Brussels – BE
Art Contemporary Biarritz – FR
2020
AAF Battersea – Galerie Virginie Barrou Planquart – GB
Urbanity Art Fair – Madrid – ES
2019
Design – Galerie Artima – Paris – FR
Context – Miami – Galerie Virginie Barrou Planquart – USA
Fotofever – Paris – FR
Lille Art Up – FR
Arte Madrid Feria – Galerie PrestaArt – ES
Art Wynwood – Markowicz Fine Art – Miami – USA
Palm Beach Modern and Contemporary Art Fair – USA
2018
Explosions – Personal exhibition – Galerie Artima – Paris – FR
Art Market – Bridgehampton – NY – Galerie Virginie Barrou Planquart – USA
em>Kings and Queens of Pop Art – Group show – NASSAU 42 Fine Arts – Anvers – BE
Hong-Kong Art Fair – Galerie Virginie Barrou Planquart – HGK
AAF Brussels – Galerie Virginie Barrou Planquart – BE
Design – Group show – Galerie Artima – London – GB
2017
Mappa Mondo – Group exhibition – Galerie Artima – Paris – FR
Art Miami – Galerie Olivier Waltman – USA
YIA Basel – Galerie Virginie Barrou Planquart – CH
Galerie Artima – London – UK
Hong-Kong Art Fair – Galerie Virginie Barrou Planquart – HGK
2016
Scope Miami – Galerie Virginie Barrou Planquart – USA
Partnership with the Gamba Group – Toulouse – FR
Art Southampton – New York – Galerie Virginie Barrou Planquart – USA
Scope Basel – Galerie Virginie Barrou Planquart – CH
AAF New-York – Galerie Virginie Barrou Planquart – USA
AAF Bruxelles – galerie Sophie Le Mée – BE
2015
Partnership with the Swiss watches’ manufacturer Corum. Exhibition at the Printemps Haussmann – Paris – FR
Galerie Next – Toulouse – FR
Galerie Sophie Le Mée – Ile de Ré – FR
City Hall – Seoul – Galerie BDMC – KR
Espace Roguet – Toulouse – FR
Galerie Marie Ricco – Calvi – FR
Yang Hong Art Space Center – Galerie BDMC Beijing – CN
Le fil à retordre – Centre Culturel des Mazades – Toulouse – FR
2014
Galerie Kunstraub – Köln – Galerie BDMC – D
Mister Freeze, Street Art: Group show with Miss Van, Oko, Legz, Gris1, Katre… – Toulouse – FR
GMAC – Grand Marché d’art contemporain de Bastille – Paris – FR
Open of the Artists of Monaco – Group exhibition – Galerie L’Entrepôt – Monaco – MC
2013
Guest of honor at Aucamville Arts Week – FR
Galerie Ingres – CRDP – Toulouse – FR
Galerie Espacio 8/Findeskul – Madrid – ES
Group show Mister Freeze – Toulouse: Di Rosa, Chamizo, Costa, L’Atlas, Tilt, Mist, Gris 1… – FR
2012
Cow Parade – Toulouse – Auction and edition of a catalogue – FR
Exhibition and artist residency in the gallery Is’Art – Antananarivo – Madagascar – MG
Les Sens de l’Art – Aéroport de Blagnac – Toulouse – FR
2010
Galerie Mandy’Art – Toulouse – FR