Eugène Leroy - Paintings and Drawings
3 May through 28 June 2008

Galerie Michael Werner is pleased to present paintings and drawings by the French artist Eugène Leroy (1910-2000).

Eugène Leroy developed his oeuvre over several decades, largely unnoticed by the public. It was not until the 1980s and 1990s that he received national and international recognition. At documenta IX in Kassel, Germany, in 1992, his works were exhibited in their own room and in 1995, at the Venice Biennale, his work was presented impressively as well. Eugène Leroy was awarded the "Grand Prix National de la Peinture" by his native country, France, in 1996. At least since that time, Leroy came to be known as one of the great painters of his generation. The paintings and drawings, which are exhibited at Galerie Michael Werner, are strong evidence of this important period of his work.

Leroy’s impastoed paintings take the viewer on a journey into the world of color and paint, and also their application. It takes only a few seconds for the eye to identify structures and motifs. Then, "Sophie" (1985), "Marina" (1986), "Claire" (1987) or a "Grande Figure Blanche" (1990) appear on the canvas. Other paintings give the viewer an insight into the artist's studio. The motifs - mostly female nudes, landscapes, and still-lifes - are built up of oil paint which is applied in numerous layers and many spots of paint. Often, the paint masses are highlighted by bright areas of color which intensify the luminosity of the adjacent parts. The layering and the intensely re-worked surfaces tell something about the painter's working process, and the weeks, sometimes many years, needed to create these works.

Leroy’s charcoal drawings, gouaches and pastels develop the motifs out of densely applied, gestural lines. As in his paintings, his drawings come to life through applied highlights which differentiate the motifs from the background. Eugène Leroy is thus described not only as a painter of color, but also as one of light.

Since 1983 Galerie Michael Werner has exhibited Eugène Leroy’s work in Cologne, New York and now in Berlin.

The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue. For questions, please contact Galerie Michael Werner.