Georges Rousse (French, born )

Georges Rousse (French, b.1947) is a photographer, painter, and installation artist, who lives and works in Paris, France. Rousse has been taking photos since receiving his first camera at the age of nine, but he never formally attended art school to pursue photography. Instead, he attended medical school in Nice, but studied photography and printing on the side.

Rousse's first foray into professional photography was with the opening of an architectural photography studio, where he could indulge his love of both photography and architecture. Rousse abandoned photographing architecture to focus on photographing his own installations created within derelict buildings. This change in work was inspired by a viewing of Black Square Against a White Field by Kazimir Malevich (Russian, 1879–1935).

Rousse's photographs have been shown on a large scale to make viewers immerse themselves in his work. He has been widely exhibited, starting with his first exhibition at the Galerie de France in Paris in 1981. Other exhibitions have taken place at the Art Center in Lyon, the Missokhan Gallery in Kobe, and the Johyun Gallery in Seoul. His work has received a good deal of critical approval as well, resulting in several prestigious awards, including the Villa Médicis hors les murs in 1983, the Villa Médicis from 1985 to 1987, the Salon de Montrouge Drawing Prize in 1992, and the National Grand Prix of Photography award in 2008.

Rousse's installations extend far beyond photography. His constructive use of space requires both sculpting and painting to achieve his vision. In addition, his familiarity with architecture helps blend the architectural elements of a site with his artistic constructions. The setup is immortalized in a photograph. Some of his works, such as Vitry (2007) or Metz (1994), can only be fully appreciated when photographed, since the installations were intended to be viewed from a specific angle. Rousse is represented by the RX Gallery in Paris.

Timeline

1947
Born in Paris
1986
Award of Rome, Italy
1986–1987
Residency at the Villa Medicis, Rome, Italy
1988
Award International Center Photography, New York
Lives and works in Paris

Exhibitions

2009
Reckerman Gallery, Cologne, Germany (solo)
2009
Art Center, Anglet, France (Booklet) (solo)
2009
French Thai cultural festival, Bangkok, Thailand (solo)
2009
French Thai cultural festival, Patrimonio, France (solo)
2009
Fine Art Museum, Calais, France (solo) (Cat.)
2009
Vilnius, european capital of culture (solo)
2009
Fine Art Museum, Louviers, France (solo) (Cat.)
2009
Guy Bärtschi Gallery, Geneva, Switzerland (solo)
2009
Springer & Winckler Gallery, Berlin, Germany (solo)
2009
Cultural center Una Volta, Bastia, France (solo) (Cat.)
2009
100XFrance-Photographies françaises, House of Sampoerna &CCCL, Surabaya (Indonesia); Art Center, Taipei; Fine Art Museum, Fukuoka (Japan
2009
Métamorphose Fabrique culturelle, Casablanca, Morocco (Cat.)
2009
Vide et plénitude, Korean cultural Center, Paris, France (Cat.)
2009
La sculpture dans la lumière - une épopée photographique 1839 – 2009, Parc de Sceaux, France
2009
Dans l'œil du critique - Bernard Lamarche Vadel et les artistes, City Museum of modern Art, Paris, France (Cat.)
2009
Chambres d’écho, Réattu Museum, Arles, France (Cat.)
2009
Ecriture & Abstraction, RX Gallery, Paris, France
2009
Invenção de um mundo, Coleção da Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Institut Itaú Cultural, São Paulo, Brazil (Cat.)
2009
No man’s land, French Embassy, Tokyo, Japan
2008
European House of Photography – MEP, Paris Monograph, France (solo)
2008
RX Gallery, Paris, France (solo)
2008
Fine arts museum, Chambéry, France (solo)
2008
Johyun Gallery, Seoul, Korea (solo)
2008
Johyun Gallery, Busan, Korea (solo)
2008
French cultural Center of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
2008
Fine Arts Museum, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam (solo)
2008
National Museum of Medieval and Modern art Matera, Italy (solo)
2008
AbsensWorks in situ, Meessen - De Clercq Gallery, Brussels, Belgium (solo)
2008
Kulczyk Foundation, Poznan, Poland
2008
Signs of existenceFine arts museum, Buenos Aires Catalog - Fine arts museum, Neuquén, Argentina
2008
People and Places : Selections from the Allen Thomas Jr. Photography Collection, Southeastern Center for Contemporary, Art Winston-Salem NC, USA
2008
100 X France - French Photography, Ayale Museum, Manila; Kyungsung University, Busan (Korea); Month of Photography, Queen's Gallery, Bangkok; French Cultural Center, Phnom Penh; College of Fine Arts, Hanoi; French Cultural Center, Hue (Vietnam); National Gallery of Indonesia, Yogyakarta 'Indonesia) • National Gallery of Indonesia, Jakarta; Bandung Gallery and ITB, Soemardja; Bali Art Center, Bali (Indonesia)
2008
The Great crossing : Photographic Horizons, Museum, Rimouski . Museum, Gaspe; Champlain House, Brouage; Museum, La Rochelle; Museum, Bas-Saint) Laurent; Fine Arts Museum of Quebec (Quebec)
2008
Turning Point : The Demise of Modernism and the Rebirth of Meaning in American Art, Brigham Young University, Provo UT, USA
2008
Six Masterpieces, Springer and Winckler gallery, Berlin, Germany
2008
Urbanities, Gallery les filles du calvaire, Paris, France
2008
New presentation of drawings and photography, Museum of Modern and contemporary art (MAMCS), Strasbourg, France
2008
At the very beginning of the eighties ..., Art center, Thonon-les-Bains, France
2008
Tour d'un monde, Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Paris, France
2007
Utopique Banlieue, Forum culturel de Blanc-Mesnil, Blanc-Mesnil, France
2007
Galerie AgArt, Amilly, France
2007
Galerie Catherine Putman, Paris
2006
Banque Ersel,Turin, Italy
2006
Galerie Catherine Putman, Paris
2006
Temporada SESC de ARTE, Sao Paulo, Brazil
2006
Art grandeur nature, biennale d’art contemporain en Seine Saint Denis, France
2006
Galerie Lucien Schweitzer, Luxembourg
2006
Musée Réattu, Arles, France
2006
Galerie Reckermann, Cologne, Germany
2006
Galerie Altxerri, San Sebastian, Spain
2006
Galerie Reckermann, Cologne, Germany
2006
Maison des arts, Malakoff, France
2005
Wilhelm Lehmbruck Museum, Duisburg, Germany
2005
Galerie Mathieu, Lyon, France
2005
Photo & co gallery, Milano, Italy
2005
Weltausstellung, französisches Pavillon, Nagoya, Japan
2005
Travail in situ, Fécamp, France
2005
Galerie 29, Evian, France
2005
Musée de Soissons, Soissons, France
2004
Galerie d’art contemporain, Toulouse Le Mirail, France
2004
L’imagerie, Lannion, France
2004
Élévation, Transphotographiques 4, Maison de la photographie, Lille, France
2004
Traces Transphotographiques 4, hôpital du Hainaut, Hainaut, France
2004
Espace d’art contemporain A. Malreaux, Colmar, France
2004
Galerie photo & co., Turin, Italy
2004
Interventions, Art gallery, Lafayette college, Easton PA
2003
Galerie Guy Bärtschi, Genève, France
2003
Arquitecturas excéntricas, Koldo Mitxelena Kulturunea, Donostia / San Sebastián
2003
Galerie Carles Taché, Barcelona, Spain
2003
Galerie Heidi Reckermann, Cologne, Germany
2003
Springer & Winckler Galerie, Berlin, Germany
2003
Travaux, Institut français, Casablanca
2003
Galerie de l’école des Beaux-Arts, Nantes, France
2003
Couvent des cordeliers, Musée de Châteauroux, Châteauroux
2002
Galerie Graff, Montréal
2002
Halle verrière, Meisenthal
2002
APCIS, Maisons Alfort
2002
Carré Saint Vincent, Orléans
2002
Galerie Spectrum Soto, Zaragoza
2002
Imagen, mois de la photo, Huesca
2002
Territoires partagés, Espace d’art contemporain, Rouillé
2002
Fiac, Galerie Guy Bärtschi, Genève
2002
Peter Miller Gallery, Chicago
2002
Galerie Huber Goueffon, Munich
2002
Fondation pour l'art contemporain Claudine et Jean-Marc Salomon, Alex
2002
Galerie Maria Martin, Madrid
2002
L’Arsenal, Metz
2002
Galerie Reckermann, Cologne
2002
Jeux dans le miroir, IUFM, Mont de Marsan
2002
Galerie Robert Mann, New York
2002
Galerie Barbara Davis, Houston
2002
Fotofest, mois de la photo, Houston
2001
Springer & Winckler Galerie, Berlin
2001
Galerie H.S. Steinek, Vienna
2001
Installation murs, Lyon
2001
Metropolitan Teien art museum, Tokyo
2001
Le Château d’eau, Toulouse
2001
Galerie Mathieu, Lyon
2001
Musée municipal des Beaux arts, Bernay
2001
Fondation pour l’art contemporain Claudine et Jean Marc Salomon, Alex
2001
Chantiers publics, Musée Fabre, Montpellier
2001
Chapelle Jeanne d’Arc, Thouars
2001
Galerie Heidi Reckermann, Cologne
2001
Galerie Durand-Dessert, Paris
2000
Photo & Co, Torino
2000
Ecole Supérieure des Beuax-Arts, Clermond Ferrand
2000
Photo & Co, Namorfosi, Milano
2000
Springler & Winckler Galerie, Berlin
2000
Sungkok Museum, Seoul
2000
Centro Galego de Arte Contemporánea, Santiago de Compostela
2000
Galerie Guy Bärtschi, Genève
2000
Jena, Jena Optik
1999
Museum of Photographic Arts, Anamorphose/Metamorphose, San Diego
1999
Springler and Winckler Galerie, Berlin
1999
Galerie Municipale Le Rectangle, Lyon
1999
Galerie Barnoud, Dijon
1999
Galerie Mathieu, Lyon
1999
Hôtel de Villle, Clichy-La-Garenne, Paris
1999
La maison du peuple, Installation, Clichy-La-Garenne, Paris
1999
Mercian Museum of Art, Karzuizawa, Japan
1999
Photo & Co, Namorfosi, Milano
1998
Musée d’art moderne et d’art contemporain, Nizza
1998
Galerie Durand-Dessert, Paris
1998
Galerie Reckermann, Cologne
1998
Galerie Carles Taché, Barcelona
1998
Photo & Co., Galerie Tazetti, Torino
1998
Palacete del Embarcadero, Santander
1998
Villa Walberta, Munich
1998
Mediatheque F. Mitterand, Argentan
1997
Musée de l’Elysée, Lausanne
1997
Galerie Guy Bärtschi, Genève
1997
Galerie Graff, Montreal
1997
Kunstverein, Konstanz
1997
Galerie Springer & Winckler, Frankfurt a. M.
1996
Galerie Duchamp, Yvetot
1996
Ecole supérieure d’art, Cambrai
1996
Galerie Reckermann, Cologne
1996
Galerie municipale de l’ancien collége, Chatellerault
1996
Centre International d‘ Art Mural, Saint-Savin
1996
Museu d’Art Contemporani, Barcelona
1996
Galerie Mathieu, Lyon
1996
Musée-conservatoire du patrimoine, Salagon
1996
Mediathéque intercommunale, Miramas
1995
Bibliothéque Louis Aragon, Choisy
1995
Espace Peiresc, Toulon
1995
La Ferme du Buisson, Noisiel
1995
Galerie Sandmann et Haak, Hannover
1995
Galerie municipale, Gennevilliers
1995
Galerie Guy Bärtschi, Genève
1995
Galerie Mssokhan, Kobe
1995
Galerie Durand-Dessert, Paris
1994
Musée Ludwig, Koblenz
1994
Galerie Oniris-Barnoud, Dijon
1994
Galerie Springer & Winckler, Frankfurt a. M.
1994
Credac, Ivry
1994
13e art, verriere d’Austerlitz Paris
1994
Centre d’art, Juvisy
1994
Espace Jules Verne, Bretigny
1994
Musée de la cour d’or, Metz
1993
Centre culturel, Dax
1993
Galerie Barbaro, Paris
1993
Centre d’art contemporain, Saint-Priest
1993
Musée national d’art moderne, Paris
1993
Galerie Reckermann, Köln
1993
Ofac, La Flèche
1993
Centre européen de la jeune création, Strasbourg
1991
Museum of art, Israel
1991
Farideh Cadot, Paris
1991
Mols de la photographie, Bratislava
1991
Galerie Michel Delorme, Paris
1990
Galerie Reckermann, Köln
1990
Théatre municipal, Tuile
1990
Museum of art, Tel Aviv
1989
Galerie Michael Haas, Berlin
1989
Padiglione d’arte contemporanea, Milano
1989
Frac PACA, Marseille
1988
Cambridge Darkroom, Cambrigde
1988
Galerie Farideh Cadot, Paris
1988
Institut Français, Innsbruck
1988
The Art Fair, Hamburg
1988
Farideh Cadot gallery, New York
1988
Mols de la photographie, Hotel de Sully, Paris
1988
Théatre de l’Agora, Evry
1987
Dolly Fiterman gallery, Minneapolis
1987
Centre d’art contemporain, Castres
1987
Galerie Claudio Guenzani, Milano
1987
Musée de Saragosse, Zaragoza
1987
Arnoltini gallery, Bristol
1987
Galerie Farideh Cadot, Paris
1987
Third Eye Center, Glasgow
1987
Riverside Studio, London
1986
Rencontres internationales de la photographie, Arles
1986
Farideh Cadot gallery, New York
1985
Musée des Beaux arts, Orléans
1985
Galerie Graff, Montréal
1985
Galerie Grita Insam, Vienna
1985
Galerie Farideh Cadot, Paris
1984
Galerie Grita Insam, Vienna
1984
The Quay gallery, San Francisco
1984
Centre dramatique national de Normandie, Caen
1984
Musée municipal, La Roche sur-Yon
1984
Galerie Michael Haas, Berlin
1984
Galerie Farideh Cadot, Paris
1984
Halle Sud, Geneve
1984
Anina Nosel gallery, New York
1984
Mendelson gallery, Pittsburgh, Penns.
1983
Galerie Farideh Cadot, Paris
1983
Nicolas Jacobs gallery, London
1983
CAPC, Bordeaux
1982
Bibliothèque nationale, cabinet des estampes, Paris