Biography
&
Exhibitions
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
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