“Armand Avril is recognised as an important French artist. He is an inspired creator whose magic touch transforms objects into impertinently witty assemblages. He is a provocative artist taking pleasure in giving life to objects.”
Bernard Brochand
This acclaimed artist lives and works in Cotignac in the Var, South of France. He was born in Lyon in 1926. During the war, his father, a key member of the Resistance, for protection placed the young Armand as a shepherd in the mountains of the south. His father was captured and perished in a concentration camp before the end of the war.
Avril said of this time in the mountains, that he appreciated the quietness and the solace of his occupation, while at the same time he was influenced in a positive way with the scenery and light. He said: “When gazing on things I learnt to use my imagination.”
After the war he became a plasterer-painter and then decided to be an artist in the. With his outlook on life and experiences, he developed his own unique creative style. His first exhibition was in 1957.
As painter until the late 1960’s, he demonstrated a figurative style, with influences of Jean Dufy and Jean Fusaro, with a taste for bold colours and freshness of the topics.
In the 70’s he started to use combinations of objects or fixtures, carvings, making bas-reliefs made from bottle caps, clothespins, elements of children’s toys, croquet balls, glue, nails and cans. “The low price becomes priceless creates with artistic impact.”
Avril also was also further influenced by the creative expansion of leading artists in the South of France, such as; Braque, Picasso and Matisse, with their compositions and ‘cut outs.’ He further developed in this new medium; the combinations of objects or fixtures, making bas-reliefs made from bottle caps, clothespins, elements of children’s toys, croquet balls, bast, glue, nails, empty cans.
His art is like a style called “singular art” art brut, near to “primitive arts “or” arts premiers dear to the Surrealists, and a style of African art. He then evolved his dynamic new visual style with carvings and the objects.
These forms, magnified by the energy of their life-giving material and the purity of their colours, are integrated into his art in a childlike spontaneous manner, with an underlying ever-present metaphysical purpose.
“The low price becomes priceless when he tinkers.”
Artworks available: Pair carved wooden panels by Armand Avril
2 x wooden carved artwork panels
Each panel signed by the artist
1 x panel on back features: Salut à Man Ray (the famous photographer & artist)
1 x panel on back features: Mimosas à la tête de mort (skull)
Each panel: 185 x 62 cm
Certificates of Authenticity
Note: The artist says he loves the themes of both cats and women…as they are similar in nature!
Sea Life – painting and card collage
Joy – painting and card collage
Solo exhibitions
Collections:
Centre National d’art contemporain – Paris
Musée d’art moderne – Paris
FRAC – Rhône Alpes
Musée Paul Dini – Villefranche sur Saône
Musée de Grenoble
Musée de Lyon
Musée de Toulon
Musée de Saint Etienne
Musée Ingres – Montauban