Artists - Claire Chesnier - Ceysson & Bénétière

Claire Chesnier

Born in 1986 in Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Lives and works in Paris, France.

Claire Chesnier first encountered art through music and writing, which she practiced very early on. She devotes nearly twenty years to classical and contemporary dance, which she sees as a way to be at one with the music. Painting, which she has practiced since the beginning, is the decisive encounter experienced as an extension of the writing gesture and the incarnation of an extended dance gesture. Her commitment to painting is turned towards a physical and poetic relationship with the world, of apprehension of touch, and of the sensitive entanglement of things, of life. For her, "painting is a story of touch, of how to touch and be touched. She arrives where words fail by tactility and rhythm". She began her studies at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris and at the Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, where she worked in the studio of the painter Jean-Michel Alberola and where her research was followed by the philosopher Alain Bonfand. She obtained her National Diploma of Fine Arts and her doctorate in Arts and Art Sciences. She is quickly noticed by the stylist Agnès b. who awards her the Prix des Amis des Beaux-Arts in 2011 and makes her join her gallery, the Galerie du jour agnès b. where they will collaborate from 2012 to 2017. This is followed by a collaboration with the ETC Gallery in Paris from 2018 to 2022. Claire Chesnier has won several prizes such as the Contemporary Talents Prize of the François Schneider Foundation, the Art Collector Prize, the Fénéon Prize of the Chancellery of the Universities of Paris as well as the Yishu 8 Prize of the House of Arts in Beijing where she studies the ancient painters that she looks at as much as the stones and mists that characterize them.

Education

2018 PhD in Arts and Sciences of Art, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Paris, France
2012 Post-graduate, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, Paris France
Formation in scientific management of artworks, Ecole du Louvre/Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, Paris, France
2011 National Superior Diploma of Plastic Art (DNSAP), Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, Atelier Jean-Michel Alberola, mémoire dirigé par Alain Bonfand, Paris, France
2009 National Diploma of Plastic Arts (DNAP), Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, Atelier Jean-Michel Alberola, Paris, France
Master's degree II Arts and Sciences of Art, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Paris, France

Awards - Grants

2016 Exceptional aid for creation, National Center for Plastic Arts CNAP 

2014 Fénéon Prize (Art) from the Chancellery of the Universities of Paris

2013 Contemporary Talent Prize of the François Schneider Foundation, Fondation de France

Art Collector Award

Yishu 8 House of Arts of Beijing Prize

2011 Agnès B. Prize of the Friends of the Beaux-Arts of Paris

Nominated for the Jean-Claude Reynal Grant, Fondation de France

2009 Research grant, Arts and Sciences of Art, University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne

Nominated for the Bourse Jeunes Talents, Fondation de France

Residencies

2012-15 Villa Belleville - Point Ephémère, Paris

2013 Yishu 8 - House of Arts, Beijing

Collections

Collection FRAC Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand

Collection Paul Dini Museum, Villefranche-sur-Saône

Collection agnès b. - La Fab', Paris

Collection François Schneider Foundation, Fondation de France, Wattwiller

Collection Ville de Vitry-sur-Seine, deposit at the Musée d'Art Contemporain du Val-de-Marne (MACVAL)

Collection Banque de Luxembourg 

Collection Artothèque du Lot

Collection Artothèque d’Angers

Collection Yishu 8 Maison des Arts, Pékin

Collection Art Collector, Paris

The CCNOA Collective Collection, Bruxelles
Collection Association Florence pour l’Art Contemporain, Paris

Claire Chesnier’s ink paintings have an upwards atmospheric thrust in their overt abstraction, in their pigment density and liquid materiality. Their verticality displays bodily proportions and paradoxically veers towards the horizontality of a tremolo, streaking the paintings with striations of chromatic gradients. Two axes are superimposed – body axis and landscape axis – making it impossible to reconstruct the painting’s phases. The recent paintings, which have more of a fibrous, corporeal and organic quality than those exhibited in 2020 at the Galerie ETC, are dawnings of abstraction, luminous apertures onto the unfolding of hazy spectrums. For each painting, Claire Chesnier jots down in private notebooks the colour values underlying the strata. For instance, the annotated sketch linked to painting 010921 lists the following colours bottom to top: "indigo, dark purplish indigo, red anthracite, dark Sienna magenta, Sienna/burgundy, dark ochre, Sienna/red ochre, old yellow gold, silver/gold, blue grey, pearly white violet-pink, greyish white, pearl blue, yellow sea-green, pale sea-green blue, pearl cyan white". Over fifteen colours, recorded in a condensed form that never divulges the totality, the imperceptible alteration of hues, the evanescent shift from greyish-white to pearl blue. And notwithstanding its precision, this list can never convey how the ambient light is channelled.

Jean-Charles Vergne

Solo shows

2024

Claire Chesnier, L'Ahah, Paris, France

2023

Claire Chesnier, Galerie Ceysson & Bénétière, Lyon, France

Les Jours, curator : Philippe Piguet, Chapelle de la Visitation, Centre d’Art de Thonon les bains, France

2022
Mudhoney, Claire Chesnier - Denis Laget, curated and catalogue : Jean-Charles Vergne, Galerie ETC, Paris, France

2021
Par espacements et par apparitions, text : Pierre Wat, l’Ahah, Paris, France

2020
Le ciel aussi est un fracas, curated et catalogue : Karim Ghaddab, Galerie Etc., Paris, France

2019
L’Art dans les chapelles, curator : Eric Suchère, Chapelle Trinité Castennec, Bieuzy, France
Une réserve de nuit, Claire Chesnier & Estèla Alliaud, curator : John Cornu, Galerie Art et Essai, Rennes, France

2018
Under B shall come « Butterfly powder », Galerie Maior, Palma de Majorque, Spain
Fragments d’une déposition, Espace Commines, Paris, France

2016
Résonances, Galerie du jour agnès b., Paris, France

2014
L’aire des aurores, curator : Léa Bismuth, le Patio, Paris, France

2013
Résonance, Yishu 8 – Maison des Arts, Pékin, China
Docks Art Fair, c/o Galerie Leonardo Agosti, Pavillon 8, Lyon, France

2012
Fragments d’une déposition, Galerie du jour agnès b., Paris, France
Fragments d’une déposition, Galerie agnès b., Marseille, France
Parcours Saint-Germain, agnès b., Paris, France
Re-veiling, T-Gallery, Bratislava, Slovakia

Group Shows

2024
De Monet à Hockney - La Couleur tombée du ciel, curated by Jean-Charles Vergne, FRAC Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France

2023
Art Brussels, c/o Galerie Ceysson & Bénétière, Brussels, Belgium
Le Toucher du monde, curated by Sylvie Carlier, Laure Forlay et Jean-Charles Vergne, Musée Paul Dini, Villefranche-sur-Saône, France
Beautés, curated by Jean-Charles Vergne, FRAC Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France

Perceptions, curated by Elodie Derval, Artothèque, Angers , France

2022 
Luxembourg Art Week, c/o Galerie Ceysson & Bénétière, Luxembourg
A contre-jour, dialogue with Eugène Leroy, curated by Germain Hirselj, Mélanie Lerrat, Christelle Manfredi, Musée des Beaux- Arts Eugène Leroy MUba, Tourcoing, France
Dialogue with the Collections of the Musée Guimet, curated by Sophie Makariou & Henry-Claude Cousseau, Musée Guimet, Paris, France
Le Promontoire du songe, curated by Jean-Charles Vergne, FRAC Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France

2021
Printtemps, Fondation Fiminco, Romainville , France
Inspiré.e.s, curated by Lucile Hitier, Centre d’art l’ArTsenal, Dreux , France
April Showers Bring May Flowers, Michael Woolworth Publications, Paris, France
Gilles Balmet collection, Pavillon Carré de Baudouin, Paris, France
Les Apparences, curated by Thomas Lévy-Lasne, Centre d’Art A cent mètres du centre du monde, Perpignan, France
Art Luxembourg, c/o Galerie ETC, Luxembourg 

2020-2021 
Hors champ et paysages, agnès b collection, La Fab’, Paris, France
The Painting people, Michael Woolworth Publications, Paris, France
Group shows, Liaigre, Paris, France

2019
Some of us, an overview of French Art Scene, NordArt, curated by Jerome Cotinet-Alphaize et Marianne Derrien, Kunstwerk Carlshütte, Budelsdorf , Germany
Galeristes, c/o Galerie ETC, Carreau du Temple, Paris, France 
Art Paris, c/o Galerie ETC, Grand Palais, Paris , France
Résurgence III : Dimension supplémentaire, curated by Valentine Boé, Artothèque du Lot, Souillac , France
Le voyage à Nantes, projet e-busway, une collection en mouvement, Nantes, France

2018 
Vertiges, une chute dans le vide du ciel, curated by Léa Bismuth, LaBanque, Béthune , France
Passages /In Between, Espace Despalles, Paris, France
Secrets d’ateliers, Galerie Jean-Paul Barrès, Toulouse , France
Eclectic, Galerie Maior, Pollença, Maillorque, Spain
MAD Multiple Art Days, c/o Printfighters, Musée de la Monnaie, Paris , France
Fading away, curated by Céline Flécheux et Rosario Caltabiano, Galerie 22,48m2, Paris, France 
A matter of resonance, curated by Estèla Alliaud, Résidence Huet-Repolt, Bruxelles , Belgium
Aurores, Galerie Pauline Pavec, Paris, France

2017 
Cinq fois deux, curated by Philippe Piguet, la Patinoire Royale, Bruxelles, Belgium
Vantablack, curated by Erik Verhagen et Jocelyn Wolff, Galerie Jocelyn Wolff, Paris, France
MAD Mutiple Art Days, c/o Printers Matters, La Maison Rouge, Paris , France
Peindre dit-elle 2, curated by Julie Crenn, Annbelle Ténèze, Amélie Lavin, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dole , France
Printers Matters, curated by Olivier Moriette, Mario Picardo, Edouard Wolton, Atelier rue Richier, Paris, France

2016
A quoi tient la beauté des étreintes, curated by Jean-Charles Vergne, FRAC Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand , France
Histoire des formes, curated by Eric Degoutte, Centre d’art Les Tanneries, Amilly , France
Cinq fois deux, curated by Philippe Piguet, le Patio, Paris , France
Virage, Galerie de Roussan, Paris, France
Peindre n’est(-ce) pas teindre?, curated by Sandrine Morsillo, Musée de la toile de Jouy, Jouy-en-Josas, France

2015 
Minéral, curated by Jean-Marie Gallais et Ludovic Delalande, Galerie Max Hetzler, Paris, France
Un regard sur la collection agnès b., curated by Marc Donnadieu, Lille métropole musée d’art moderne, d’art contemporain et d’art brut (LaM), Villeneuve d’Ascq , France
Traits d’esprit, Galerie du jour agnès b., Paris , France
St’art, c/o Galerie Yves Iffrig, Strasbourg , France
Art Brussels, c/o Galerie du jour agnès b., Bruxelles , Belgium
Child Care for All (France Inde Karnataka), Piasa, Paris , France
Ouvrages de dames, curated by Dominique Païni, Galerie Valérie Delaunay, Paris, France

2014
Avec et sans peinture, curated by Alexia Fabre, Musée d’Art Contemporain du Val-de-Marne (MACVAL), Vitry-sur-Seine, France
Et la peinture...?, Galerie du jour agnès b., Paris, France
Prix Talents Contemporains, Fondation François Schneider, Fondation de France, Wattwiller, France
Biennale du dessin, curated by Emmanuelle Brugerolles, Gilgian Gelzer, Bernard Moninot, Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris D Dessin, Atelier Richelieu, Paris, France
Drawing Now, c/o Galerie du jour agnès b., Carreau du Temple, Paris, France

2013
The Drawer, c/o Editions The Drawer, Galerie du jour agnès b., Paris, France
Bruissements (« Nouvelles vagues », Palais de Tokyo), curated by Léa Bismuth, Galerie Isabelle Gounod, Paris, France
Sur la mauvaise pente (« Nouvelles vagues », Palais de Tokyo), curated by : Nabila Mokrani, Galerie de Roussan, Paris, France

Art Osaka, c/o Jeune Création, Institut français du Japon-Kansai, Hôtel Granvia, Osaka, Japan
Ce que le sonore fait au visuel, Château de Servières, Marseille, France
Last dance, curated by Le Syndicat Magnifique, Galerie Gourvennec Ogor, Marseille, France
La rime et la raison, curated by MPVITE, Label hypothèse, l’Escaut, Bruxelles, Belgium

Art Paris Art Fair, c/o Galerie Leonardo Agosti, Grand Palais, Paris, France
Fondation, Galerie Leonardo Agosti, Sète, France
La dispute de l’âme et du corps, curated by Jean-Christophe Arcos, Cloître des Billettes, Paris, France
Emergence, curated by Katrin Bremermann, Yifat Gat, Erin Lawlor, Hôtel Sauroy, Paris, France

2012
Filiations - Dialogues with the works of the Donation Albers-Honegger, curated by Fabienne Fulchéri, Alexandra Deslys, Espace de l’Art Concret, Château de Mouans-Sartoux, France
Jeune Création, le CentQuatre, Paris, France
Prix International de Peinture, Galerie Jean Collet, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
Décalage, Espace Commines, Paris, France
30/30 – Image Archive Project, The CCNOA Collective Collection, curated by Petra Bungert, Hoepfl Tilman, le Moins Un, Paris, France
Ready for fatality? , curated by Fabienne Bideaud, c/o Institut français de Berlin, Note on, Berlin, Germany
Athématique, Espace Brochage Express, Paris, France
Blank Generation, 57ème Salon de Montrouge, le Beffroi, Montrouge, France
Biennale de la Jeune Création, La Graineterie, Houilles, France
Figures du sommeil, curated by Catherine Viollet, Galerie Jean Collet, Vitry-sur-Seine, France

2011
Prix International de Peinture, Galerie Jean Collet, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
Comme elle vient, curated by Label hypothèse, Rosenblum Collection & Friends, Paris, France
Prix des Amis des Beaux-Arts de Paris, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, France
Prix International de Peinture J.-M. Mourlot (Fondation de France), Galerie Jeu de Paume, Marseille, France

2010
Prix International de Peinture, Galerie Jean Collet, Vitry-sur-Seine, France

2009
Prix International de Peinture, Galerie Jean Collet, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
Kiitos II, Musée des Arts et Métiers, Paris, France
Il y a, c/o Institut Suisse Océan, Espace Lhomond, Paris, France
Kiitos, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, France

Bibliography

2023
Illustrations of "Récit", by Pierre Cendors, Ed. L'Atelier contemporain, Strasbourg
Beautés, texts: Jean-Charles Vergne, Ed. FRAC Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand

2022
Le Promontoire du songe, text: Jean-Charles Vergne, Ed. FRAC Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand

2021
Les 30 ans de l'Art dans les chapelles, catalog, dir. Eric Suchère, "L'épaisseur d'un reflet" by Claire Chesnier
Inspired.e.s, exhibition catalog, texts: Lucile Hi@er and Sarah Caillet, Centre d'art l'ArTsenal, Dreux

2020
Large format monotypes, Michael Woolworth Publications, Paris
The sky is a crash too, Claire Chesnier, catalog, "La grande image" by Karim Ghaddab, Ed. Galerie ETC, Paris
5/5 Estèla Alliaud, Claire Chesnier, catalog, dir. John Cornu, Ed. Art&Essai - Université Rennes 2 & cultureclub-studio, Rennes
L'Art dans les chapelles, catalog, dir. Eric Suchère, "Le vent con@nuellement domine les yeux", by Claire Chesnier
La Besogne des images, dir. Léa Bismuth, Mathilde Girard, Paris, Ed. Filigranes

2018
"Un lieu, loin, ici" by Antoine Emaz & Claire Chesnier, Collection Livres d'artistes, Ed. Centrifuges, Saint-Jean La Buissière

2016
Monotypes for the project "Five times two - Art Collector", portfolio of prints, Michael Woolworth Publications, Paris
Peindre n'est (ce) pas teindre?, Ed. Créations & Patrimoine, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne

2015
What Sound Does to the Visual, Ed. Créations & Patrimoines, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
With and Without Painting, Ed. MACVAL, Vitry-sur-Seine

2012
Fragments of a deposition, portfolio of lithographs, Ed. Idem and Galerie du jour agnès b., Paris
Statement Archive 003 - Claire Chesnier, Ed. Shelter Press, Paris/Brussels
Jeune Création, Ed. Jeune Création/Le CentQuatre, Paris
Blank Generation, Salon de Montrouge, Ed. Particules, Paris
Figures of Sleep, Ed. Galerie Jean Collet, Vitry-sur-Seine
Biennale de la Jeune Création, Ed. la Graineterie, Houilles
Diplômés 2011, Ed. ENSBA, Paris

2011
Comme elle vient, Ed. Les Amis des Beaux-Arts de Paris

Ceysson & Bénétière

Claire Chesnier

Claire Chesnier

Art Brussels

April 20, 2023

Le toucher du monde, dialogue entre les collections FRAC Auvergne et du musée Paul-Dini, Musée Paul-Dini, Villefranche-sur-Saône, France

March 17, 2023

Luxembourg Art week

November 16, 2022