A
ndré Brasilier is a contemporary French painter whose lyrical blend of abstraction and expressionism centers on poetic, dreamlike scenes of horses, landscapes and intimate domestic moments. Trained at the École des Beaux Arts and celebrated early with major prizes, he went on to exhibit internationally for decades, culminating in a significant retrospective at the State Hermitage Museum, and he continues to live and work in Paris.
André Brasilier Biography
Blending abstraction and expressionism, André Brasilier’s lyrical, dreamlike paintings explore an intimate communion with nature. Horses—described by Brasilier as “a superb creation…charged with symbolism, strength, dynamism and beauty”—feature prominently, their elegant forms cantering through serene seascapes, chilly winter woods and brilliant sunsets. The artist’s wife and muse, Chantal, is also a favorite subject, often portrayed delicately arranging flowers.
Brasilier was born in 1929 in Saumur, France to a family of artists. Surrounded by the idyllic French countryside, Brasilier’s artistic talents and appreciation for nature blossomed early on. He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts, and in 1952, was awarded the Prix Blumenthal. The following year, at the age of 23, Brasilier won the prestigious Premier Grand Prix de Rome for painting.
Brasilier has exhibited widely throughout his career, with shows in France, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Canada, the United States, the Netherlands, Korea and Hong Kong. In 2005 he was honored with a major retrospective at the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. He currently lives and works in Paris.
