Get to Know: Jérôme Masi.

In anticipation of our very first print release with acclaimed French artist Jérôme Masi, we sat down with him to learn about his life and his art.  Take a look at the splendid little interview below as well as some of his breathtaking artwork!

Where were you born and where are you now?

I was born in the center of France, in Clermont Ferrand. I studied in Lyon and I now live in a little town called Annecy, near the French Alps in France.

What are your first artistic memories?

Art has been part of my life since the beginning as my father studied at the Beaux Arts.

How has your style evolved from over the years to now?  Have you always dealt with the same themes?

I started before I learned to draw, by doing abstract works. After my Art studies, I was inspired by the masters like Francis Bacon or Lucien Freud. I loved their pictorial modernity. I then worked in various genres of the art world, like video games and graphic design. It is my love for graphic design, architecture and design that forged my actual style.

And no, my themes have not always been the same. Life experiences have influenced me greatly over time.

Could you tell us a bit about your work and this week's release with us, "Pectin?"

"Pectin" was originally created for a French exhibition around a funny subject: the salad.

I thought this was hilarious and so I tried to change the subject and created something like a grapefruit pattern that I put on one of my characters.

What is a normal day like in the studio for you?

I take my bike to my studio most of the time. I go through the process of reading and replying to  my emails, review my day and then work on several subjects at the same time.

I divide my time between commissioned projects, often digital, and my personal productions on canvas.

I share the studio with two friends, we spend a lot of time talking and drinking coffee.

What is the hardest part of creating a work?

I don't know. Maybe to find the time.  Time is the center of all things... I think in my work, I’m trying to stop time.

And what is the most rewarding part?

It's certainly when someone buys one of my pieces.

I really appreciate when my work is able to leave the studio. Even if I create the work for myself, it's always a big satisfaction when people take ownership of my work.

When you're not working in the studio, what are you up to?

I'm the happy father of three and I am very lucky to live in a town between lakes and mountains in France, so we walk a lot, we ski, we bike and we enjoy our friends.

What can we look forward to from you for the rest of 2023?

I’m participating in several collective exhibitions, and several collaborations are also in progress... Stay tuned!

"Pectin" will be available Thursday at 1PM PST in our shop.