User:Elorajorg/Jacques D'Auteuil painter and sculptor

Jacques D'Auteuil, sculptor - innovator of LED incorporated stainless steel sculptures

Born in 1947 in Peronne, Northern France, Jacques D’Auteuil inherited a passion for art from his father as a child.

D’Auteuil began his formal artistic training in the 70’s in New York city at the prestigious School of Visual Arts while working as assistant to a renown fashion photographer. D’Auteuil studied drawing and painting under famed Jack Potter. In 1973 Jacques earned an award in New York for a piece entitled “Harlem”.

Although Jacques started his painting career as a traditional impressionist, his work today effectively blurs the boundaries between high art and popular traditions. His paintings display an extremely vibrant and powerful color scheme and are often inscribed with “quotes” from images of movies, and popular art. These fragments are, in turn, layered into textured mutations that explore the effects of modern culture. Each of his pieces is electrically complex, witty, packed with thoughtful allusions, highly visually engaging while striking emotional chords within the viewer.

D’Auteuil has innovated in the field of sculpture, using LEDs within his stainless steel sculptures. His sculptures involve complex arrangements of hand-cut, textured high grade stainless steel accentuated by small LED lights, giving each piece a unique play when both switched on or off.

D’Auteuil’s philosophy could be summed in his own statement:

“I am passionate about everything I do – and most definitely in my art – and rarely do I compromise in my life. I always attempt to push myself in any painting or sculpture I create and I believe that I may even be the most feared critic of my own art (witness the number of finished pieces of art which I destroyed for I found they did not fully convey my original concept), which as a result allows me to break through and push the envelope, continually. Thus I have an evolving art.

“I believe that art must never, ever be done solely for one’s own satisfaction but that true art must be created as if intended for a large majority of viewers – viewers of any origin and faith – in order to evoke in the majority of them an emotional touch that will move them in one fashion or another. Art drives and vanguards and as much as I drive my own art, I am also in return driven by it, reaching new heights.”

D’Auteuil has exhibited his art in France and in the U.S.A. and was featured in several newspapers such as The Montecito Journal, THE Magazine of Los Angeles, French Culture, France-Amerique, Fine Art Registry, Family Life, Ventura County Star and in Santa Barbara News Press. He was interviewed by France’s most prominent radio station (France Inter).

It has been stated that Jacques D’Auteuil has distinguished himself as one of the important sculptors of his generation. ♦