François Morellet, French neon sculptor and minimalism pioneer, dies at 90
François Morellet, a prominent French artist celebrated for his neon light sculptures and as a pioneer of minimalism in Europe, passed away at the age of 90 on May 10-11, 2016, in Cholet, France. His gallery in Paris, Kamel Mennour, shared the news, honoring his 'lively, creative, luminous spirit.' Born in 1926, Morellet began his artistic journey as a self-taught teenager, evolving from semi-figurative to abstract styles influenced by Piet Mondrian. In 1960, he co-founded the Groupe de Recherche d'Art Visuel (GRAV) with Julio Le Parc, focusing on audience engagement. For sixty years, he utilized neon tubes to create public art and installations. His final piece, 'Lo spirito di scale,' was commissioned by the Louvre in 2010. Shortly before his passing, he had exhibitions celebrating his 90th birthday.
Key facts
- François Morellet died at age 90 on May 10-11, 2016, in Cholet, France.
- He was a self-taught artist who began painting as a teenager.
- He co-founded the Groupe de Recherche d'Art Visuel (GRAV) in 1960.
- Morellet worked with neon tubes for six decades, starting in the 1960s.
- He was compared to American minimalist Dan Flavin.
- His last work, 'Lo spirito di scale,' was commissioned by the Louvre in 2010.
- The Centre Pompidou held a retrospective for him in 2011.
- Multiple exhibitions opened for his 90th birthday in London, São Paulo, and Lucca.
Entities
Artists
- François Morellet
- Piet Mondrian
- Julio Le Parc
- Victor Vasarely
- Dan Flavin
- Mario Ballocco
Institutions
- Kamel Mennour
- Galerie Creuze
- Groupe de Recherche d'Art Visuel (GRAV)
- Louvre
- Centre Pompidou
- Major Gallery
- Annely Juda Fine Art
- Dan Galeria
- Fondazione Ragghianti
Locations
- Cholet
- France
- Paris
- London
- São Paulo
- Brazil
- Lucca
- Italy