Timeline

1928

Born in Paris, France

1939

Entered the Lycée Carnot, Paris, France

1943

Expelled from the Lycée Carnot. Started attending an evening class in drawing.

Entered at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France

1945

Left the École des Beaux-Arts and traveled to Brittany with his mother

1947

Met the writer Pierre Descargues, who became one of his earliest and most ardent supporters, writing the catalogue preface for his first one-man show in 1947

1948

Emmanuel David offered Buffet an exclusive contract with his gallery, shared with art dealer Maurice Garnier
Recipient, Prix de la Critique (Critic's Prize) from the Paris art critics, Paris, France

1955

Elected the most important post-war artist by the art magazine Connaissance des Arts

1958

The New York Times magazine ranked him one of France's Fabulous Young Five alongside such contemporaries as Yves Saint-Laurent

1971

Appointed Knight of the Honorary Legion, France

1973

Bernard-Buffet-Museum is opened in Surugadaira, Japan by the collector Kiichiro Okan

1974

Elected to the Académie des Beaux Arts, Paris, France

1999

Died in Tour, France