Celebrity Interview: Louis Lefebvre Curator Galerie Lefebvre & Fils, Paris
- Details
- Category: France A&E, Lifestyle, Culture
- Published on Monday, 18 December 2017 14:27
- Written by Janet Walker
Louis Lefebvre, owner of the Galerie Lefebvre & Fils located in the heart of Paris' curators and collectors of art and design district, created out of his mastery and knowledge, "The Residency" in the rich historic region of Versailles.
Born in Paris, Lefebvre left to study in Cambridge, England. On his return, he began working at Christie's in the European Ceramics department, followed by the Asian Ceramics department. During the 1980s, started working with his father in his role as a respected expert in Ancient Ceramics. He specialized in historical and large decorative pieces, and later Modern and Contemporary ceramics.
Galerie Lefebvre & Fils Presents American Ceramic Artist Jasmine Little
"The Residency grew from a desire precious to my family; that is to know and promote a know how passed down [from] many generations, enabling the creation of complex and unqiue art works," Lefebvre said.
In 2009, Louis Lefebvre chose to re-focus the family gallery, created in 1880. He put in place the gallery's first exhibition of new ceramics. Based on his knowledge and mastery of ceramics, Louis Lefebvre. has made his exhibition space a must for contemporary ceramic collectors and amateurs.
Since, the gallery has explored contemporary ceramics and accompanied artists such as Roger Herman, Eric Croes and Cammie Staros in their interogation of the medium with a leitmotiv and passion to show the real permanence and renewal of Ceramics as a medium in contemporary art.
Q. In 2015, you opened the "The Residency" in Versailles for artists specialized in ceramics. What is involved in this initiative?
A. In 2006, I had the chance to acquire a house in Versailles classified for its historical heritage, once the music room of the princess Elisabeth, sister of Louis XVI.
"The Residency" grew from a desire precious to my family; that is to know and promote a know-how passed down many generations, enabling the creation of complex and unique art works. The expenses of the artists invited to participate in "The Residency" are completely provided by Galerie Lefebvre & Fils, from the journey to and from Versailles, to full-board accommodation, through to the materials needed for creation.
The residency is also kitted out with two kilns to make production as easy as possible. The months. Part of the package is that your gallery is the stage for a solo show at the end of the residency. Are all the pieces are exhibited being shown exclusive?
Q. The duration of the residencies vary between 6 weeks and 3 months. Part of the package is that your gallery is the stage for a solo show at the end of the residency. Are all the pieces are exhibited being shown exclusive?
A. On average, the residency lasts two months for each invited artist. Each exhibited work is unique and unseen. There are no multiple editions.
Each residency is an opportunity to share, experiment and live a human adventure. The resulting solo show is the fruit of work that comes from a strong link between the artist and the gallery.
Q. Not all the artists in "The Residency" are artists of the gallery. How do you chose which artists benefit from the residency?
A. It would be impossible to establish an admissions process to participate in "The Residency".
I am particularly susceptible to the production of a number of artists from the West Coast of America. I find their outlook, when it comes to techniques and the work produced, of a very high level.
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There is a really unique style that comes from Los Angeles. I trust my eye and my aesthetic sensitivity. I owe many artistic encounters to Roger Herman, a professor friend at UCLA and ceramist artist, and to Danny First, an Israeli philanthropist friend.
Q. "The Residency" has existed for two years, could you tell us your first impressions of how it's gone so far, and your goals for the future?
I had given myself two years to make the project viable. I've achieved this, as well as doubling the turnover for the gallery.
The solo shows have been a great success, enabling me to confirm my role as a gallery owner by placing the artists' pieces. I also advise and accompany them in introductions to great collectors and museums. Such as Anabel Juarez, a Mexican artist, or Eric Croes, a Belgian artist, who have works in the collections of the Museum of Sèvres.
In addition, the gallery offers the residency artists a high quality of visibility through the participation in innovative international fairs, for example in AAAH Paris Internationale.
This project, dedicated to the fired arts, which started with the artist Ulrika Strömbäck continues today with many more artists. "The Residency" has a booked-up program until 2020, which demonstrates that the gallery has opened a new chapter and that the story continues.
The Ceramic artists participating in The Residency 2017-2018 program are Stan Edmondson, Zachary Armstrong, Raul De Nieves, Julia Haft-Candell, Jennifer Rochlin, Gavin Kenyon, Lynda Draper.
First image: ‘ Dry Weather ‘, oil on canvas, 280 x 420 cm, Courtesy Lefebvre & Fils, Jasmine Little.
Second image: Overview of Brie Ruais exhibition.
For more information: http://lefebvreetfils.fr/
