Ivan Messac – Clermont-Ferrand
Biography
Ivan Messac (born in 1948) is known as the youngest representative of Narrative Figuration, the French counterpart to the international Pop Art movement. He was just nineteen when he began his career and twenty when he joined the group of rebellious painters committed to the social causes of their time—decolonization, sexual liberation, feminism, and more.
Ivan Messac's youth was one of overflowing energy. The young artist made a bold entrance onto the scene: shortly after May 1968, he created a massive protest-themed paper mural in the corridors of Nanterre—the very birthplace of the movement. This explosive debut set the tone for a practice that, even by the late 1960s, showed remarkable artistic maturity, despite the artist being barely twenty.
Using a technique of large flat areas of shadow and pure color, reminiscent of period advertisements and stencils, Messac tackled all the pressing social issues of the day: the Vietnam War, the Cold War, police violence, women's rights, and minority rights—most notably through his series MINORITÉ ABSOLUE, focused on Native Americans, which drew particular attention from critics.
Subsequent series explored the question of color and its meaning, leading Messac to gradually return to painting as a primary focus by the late 1970s.
In the 1980s, he shifted his attention to sculpture, working with materials ranging from cardboard to marble, and completing several public commissions. He returned to painting in the late 1990s and also began experimenting with digital painting. His style evolved to resemble that of his early years, though now with less overtly political themes.
In 2016, Messac was invited to paint live before an audience at the Centre Pompidou, while also exhibiting internationally in galleries in the UK and China.
His work has been shown in numerous galleries and museums across France and Europe. His pieces are held in major public collections such as the Centre Pompidou, the National Contemporary Art Fund, several FRACs (Île-de-France, Alsace, and Pays de la Loire), the National Sports Museum in Nice, and the museums of Sens and Mulhouse. Over the years, many publications have been dedicated to his work.
Ivan Messac is also the author of several books and articles. He lives and works in Paris and Sens.
Solo Exhibits
2023 - Galerie T&L, Paris, Ivan Messac, Pop Drawings and More.
2022 - Galerie T&L, Paris, Ivan Messac, Pop Politique.
2021 - Galerie Taglialatella, Paris, Miroirs de Femmes.
2020 - Galerie Rabouan Moussion, Paris, Le trousseau de Dieu.
2019 - Galerie Taglialatella, Paris, Cosmo twist.
2018 - Galerie Taglialatella, Paris, Danse des pinceaux.
2017 - Galerie Taglialatella, Paris, Connexion 3G - Les Trois Grâces.
2016 - Centre Pompidou, Paris, Messac Live : 20 jours pour un tableau ; Art to Be Gallery, Lille, What will Be, will Be.
2015 - Galerie Baudoin Lebon, Art Paris Art Fair, Tout s'éclaire ; Le Radar, Espace d'art, Bayeux, Paroles d'Images ; Galerie Anne-Marie et Roland Pallade, Lyon, Au train où vont les choses ; Pepper Gallery, Antibes, Sur la voie.
2014 - Galerie Baudoin Lebon, Paris, Espace 2D3D ; Art to Be Gallery, Lille, Beware ; Espace Commines, Paris, Street Immo.
2013 - Centre d’art Villa Tamaris, La Seyne-sur-Mer, From me to you.
2010 : Nuit Blanche, Bibliothèque Forney, Paris, Histoire de Temps ; Galerie Mazel, Bruxelles, Narration(s) ; Maison Elsa Triolet-Aragon, Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines (Yvelines, Île-de-France), Hommage à Maïakovski ; Galerie JCM Billy, La Baule, Zoo mio.
2009 : Espace Jacques Villeglé, Saint-Gratien, Œuvres 2004 / 2009 ; CIPM, Marseille, Le futur a 100 ans ; Galerie Bernard Ceysson, Luxembourg-ville, Luxembourg, Peintures et sculptures des années 1980 ; Centre d'Art Villa Tamaris, La Seyne-Sur-Mer, Crazy Legs ; Domaine de Lescombes, Eysines, Ivan Messac.
2008 : Galerie Antonio Prates, Lisbonne, Pessoa est un autre ; Galerie Laurent Strouk, Paris, My generation ; Galerie Bernard Ceysson, Saint-Étienne, Messac ; Moments Artistiques, Paris, Lunatiques.
2007 : Galerie Confluence(s), Lyon, Histoire d’amour ; Centre d’art Louis Lumière, Hénin-Beaumont, Œuvres récentes ; Domaine Galuval, Cairanne, C’est dans la boîte ; École d’Art Gérard Jacot, Belfort, Œuvres sur papier 1967 / 2006 ; Galerie Orel art, Paris, Le grand écart, hommage à Vladimir Maïakovski.
2006 : Galerie le Garage, Orléans, Regarder et être vu ; Galerie Laurent Strouk, Paris, Adam & Eve.
2005 : Galerie Laurent Strouk, Paris, Impression Prime-Time.
2004 : Galerie Hervé Lourdel, Paris, Klepsévitch ; Espace Château Neuf, Tours, Carton plein ; Galerie Laurent Strouk, Paris, Clic-clac 3D.
2003 : Galerie Métropolis, Lyon, Mes années Pop ; Centre d'Art Contemporain Passages, Troyes, Comment s’y retrouver ; Bibliothèque de la Villa Tamaris, La Seyne-sur-Mer, Klepsévitch.
2001 : Centre d'art Villa Tamaris, La Seyne-sur-Mer, les années narratives ; Studio d'Arte La Subbia, Pietrasanta, Italie, Carta Pesta, marmo pesto ; Galerie Hervé Lourdel, Paris, De toutes les couleurs.
2000 : Maison Française, Washington DC, États-Unis ; Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, Virginie, États-Unis.
1999 : Moments artistiques, Paris, Pièces d’appartement.
1998 : Orangerie des Musées, Sens, Sculptures pour Aronta.
1996 : Espace Lumière, Hénin-Beaumont.
1994 : Centre d'Art Le Carré St Vincent, Orléans.
1993 : Galerie 15, Paris
1992 : Centre d’Art CREDAC, Ivry-sur-Seine ; Galerie de l’Ancien Collège, Châtellerault ; Galerie de l’École des Beaux-Arts, Cherbourg ; Galerie Catherine Mayeur, Bruxelles, Belgique.
1990 : Musée des Beaux-Arts de Joliette, Québec.
1989 : Galerie J.C. Aguas Ek'ymose, Bordeaux ; Musée régional de Rimouski, Québec.
1988 : Galerie Trajectoire, Biarritz.
1987 : Galerie J. & J. Donguy, Paris.
1981 : Galerie L'Ollave, Lyon.
1980 : Galerie Montesquieu, Agen ; Centre d'Art Le Parvis, Tarbes, Le musée dans la rue.
1977 : Conservatoire National d'Art Dramatique, Paris.
1976 : Sigma 12, Bordeaux.
1975 : Galerie Sirio, Rome ; CRACAP, Chalon-sur-Saône ; Maison de la Culture, Amiens ; Galerie Noire, Paris.
1974 : Galerie Liliane François, Paris, Les enfants sur le pot ; Galerie Alvarez Dois, Porto ; Mairie de Sallaumines, Sallaumines.
1973 : Galerie Ratié, Paris, Le noble art.
