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2009 EDITION

July 7th - September 13th

André François - Le Calligraphe, 2004.

André François

In a tribute to André François the painter, sculptor and photographer, this exhibition brings together 60 pieces of his work, produced after his oeuvre was totally destroyed in his blazing studio in 2002, as well as original drawings by some forty illustrators and graphic designers who knew him well. Their drawings bear witness to the man he was—in each contributor’s eyes, a major figure who deeply influenced their work. They include leading names from the world of illustration: Nicole Claveloux, Etienne Delessert, Jacqueline Duhême, Pierre Etaix, Henri Galeron, Ronald Searle and Tomi Ungerer. These two exhibitions will be accompanied by the screening of Sarah Moon’s film, crafted from two studio visits she made before the disaster, from books and from his exhibition catalogues.

André François
André François was born in Romania in 1915. He emigrated to Paris in 1934 and worked in Cassandre's atelier. He soon attracted attention for his imaginative illustrations and a uniquely casual style he brought to a variety of subjects. Unsurprisingly English-language magazines commissioned his work for their covers, some of which became classics. And Vogue, Citroën and Le Nouvel Observateur gave him the opportunity to develop his multifaceted talent.Before becoming an internationally famous painter and sculptor, André François illustrated books by Jarry, Prévert and Boris Vian.Also a designer of posters and theatre sets, he ventured with dazzling ease into almost every artistic field, achieving unanimous recognition among his peers.One night in December, 2002, a fire destroyed André François' studio. Nearly all his work – paintings, drawings, sculpture together with his archives, books and correspondence – were lost.Three months later, André François was back at work.He died 11 April 2005.