top of page

Biography
&
Exhibitions

The artist at work

The artist at work
2023

Garance MONFORT grew up in France in a family of artists. Her grandfather, Georges de Leon, a painter and printmaker was the original influence that sparked her creativity and the start of an artistic education.

She studied a wide range of art techniques such as drawing and painting in the artist’s atelier in Normandy, and later studied at Ecole des Beaux-arts of Cherbourg and Rouen for 5 years, before she graduated of a master in Art. She pursued her artistic carrier and studied a post diploma in history of art at the Sorbonne in Paris, as well as training to become an art teacher.

Life, travels and discovering the world, from Ireland, England, Australia to switzerland, always drawing, writing and playing music, Garance settled in 2013 in Cambridge UK, where she worked as a french teacher. She’s also a singer-songwriter and has been performing live, solo and with her band singing Jazz. Garance’s artwork has been shown in galleries internationally, in Australia, Ireland, England, France and Switzerland.

She currently lives in Thun Switzerland where she paints in her studio and plays music.

 

What inspired you to become an artist?

 

“I come from a family of artist, like my brother and father. My grandfather was the one who inspired me the most. He was a landscape artist who used colors in a way that amazed me, creating light and an impression of reality and sincerity that touched me. I studied with him from a young age. He taught me a lot about drawing and observing the world. At 16 I turned my bedroom into an art studio, and started to draw with charcoal and paint with oil and watercolor, which I still use mostly today.

Is it something you have always done, or came to later in life?

 

“As far as I can remember, I have always drawn. When i was little, I would spend hours observing my brother drawing, we’d ask each other to draw things like monsters and animals. I’ve always been obsessed with drawing and writing what I see, I keep journals and sketchbooks since I was about 17.”

What are your inspiration?

 

“I find inspiration in many things, from music, stories, poetry, art to personal experiences and travels. I illustrate my songs and poems. I write everyday, when I’m at home and when I travel. I sketch people and places. I use these to create collages or paint with oil on canvas. Poets such as Sylvia Plath, Leonard Cohen, Arthur Rimbaud, Jacques Prevert have inspired me a lot. Surrealist and symbolist painters such as Odilon Redon, and Magritte in my early work. Cezanne, Turner and Monet for my landscape paintings. Pre-Raphaelite painters and illustrators: Arthur Rackham, John Waterhouse, Dulac, John Tenniel. Seascapes painter Ivan Aïvazovski". Contemporary landscape artits Marc Bohne and Ken Bushes are great inspiration in oil technic.

Education 

1998 - 2001

University of Cherbourg, Bachelor of Fine Art, DNAP

2001 - 2003

University of Rouen, Master of Fine Art received with distinction, DNSEP

2003 - 2004

University of Paris - Sorbonne, History of Art

2004 - 2005

University of Paris, IUFM Art Teaching Course

Awards 

2001

2003

2002

DNAP Diplome National Art Plastique, Cherbourg, Fr

DNSEP Diplome National Superieur d'Expression Plastique, Rouen, Fr

1st Prize in Oil painting Competition, Havre des peintres, Portbail, Fr

Exhibitions 

Solo Exhibitions

2020

2018

2017

2016

2014

2013

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2007

2007

2005

2004

2003

La Ferme de Renouville, Vicq sur mer, France

Alliance Francaise Cambridge, UK

Black Cat Cafe, Cambridge, UK

Cafe du Theatre, Cherbourg, France

Six Bells, Cambridge, UK

Alliance Française, Canberra, Australia

Australia National University Art Centre, Canberra, Australia

Makers Gallery, Cambridge, UK

Primavera Art Gallery, Cambridge, UK

CB2 Bistro, Cambridge, UK

Tour de l'horloge, Tourlaville, France

Irish & British Film Festival, bibliothèque Jacques Prévert, Cherbourg, France

Church Notre-Dame de Portbail, France

Yaralt Gallery, Rouen, France

Portraits, l'Americano, Cherbourg, France

Estampes, Art's Cafe, Cherbourg, France

Group Exhibitions

2019

Prisma Art Gallery, Cherbourg, France

2017

Creative Reaction, Pint of Science Festival, Cambridge Brew House, UK

2016

Creative Reaction, Pint of Science Festival, St Barnabas Church, Cambridge, UK

2015

Creative Reaction, Pint of Science Festival, St Paul Church, Cambridge, UK

2014

Creative Reaction, Pint of Science Festival, The MayPole, Cambridge, UK

2013

Estivale des Ravalets, Chateau des Ravalets, Tourlaville, France

2012

Salon d'Automne, Gallerie des Halles, Cherbourg, France

2012

Chateau des Ravalets avec Boudiou Design, Tourlaville, France

2012

Narrative, Williams Art Gallery, Cambridge, UK

2012

Normandie Bulle, Comic Book Festival, Darnetal, France

2010

Artist's Choice, Blue Leaf Gallery, Dublin, Ireland

2010

Mini-Prints, St Barnabas Press Gallery, Cambridge, UK

2009

Collages & Aquarelles, Tour de l'horloge, Tourlaville, France

2008

Comic Book Festival with Playcat, Cherbourg, France

2023

Hors les murs with Pep'art, Gallery des Halles, Cherbourg, France

2006

Normandie Bulle, Comic Book Festival, Darnetal, France

2005

Jeunes artistes, Normandie Bulle, Comic Book Festival, Darnetal, France

2004

Collective exhibition with Pep'art, Maison des arts, La Glacerie, France

2004

Collective exhibition with Pep'art, Salon des Ravalets, Tourlaville, France

2003

Graduates Exhibition Show, Gallery des Beaux Arts, Rouen, France

2003

Transplantation, Botanical Garden, Sotteville-les-rouens, France

2003

Reel et imaginaire, Art Gallery Du Bellay, Mont-st-Aignan, France

2001

Reflets d'Odalisques, Maison des Arts, La Glacerie, France

Contact Me

Thanks for submitting!

Garance
Monfort
bottom of page