Jean-Charles Blais

Jean-Charles Blais is a prominent artist from the international modern art movement, who enrolled at the ""École des Beaux-Arts"" in Rennes at the age of eighteen, where he studied for a five years. Several artist had a fundamental influence on his works including Nouveaux Réalistes, Pop-Art and Arte Povera of Mario Merz. Blais was inspired to begin a new type of painting after observing torn advertising posters pasted one over the other.
 

He developed a pictorial language that focused more on the space eluded to 'behind' the surface than the two-dimensionally formulated image conveyed by the actual surface. Blais used the multi-layering of materials and his technique for observing the coincidental patterns created by edges and folds to produce creative motifs, figurative elements, houses, animals, plants and tools on the back. He most often used print mediums and formats from etchings to ephemera. In the 1980’s he held numerous solo arts showcases in France, later in Germany and the US as well, which aided in publicizing his work known to the broader public. In 1990 his first large-scale work in a public space drew a significant amount of attention. Perhaps one on Jean-Charles Blais greatest professional achievements is being tasked with decorating the Assemblée Nationale Métro station in Paris. Currently, Blais has been exploring digital technologies and new materials in his contemporary works. (Artist website)