Jean-Jacques Lebel Retrospective at Centre Pompidou Highlights Activist Art Legacy

From May 30 to September 3, 2018, Paris's Centre Georges-Pompidou showcased 'Jean-Jacques Lebel. L’outrepasseur,' a comprehensive retrospective celebrating the nearly sixty-year journey of the French artist. Born in 1936 and the son of critic Robert Lebel, he emerged as a pivotal figure in the late surrealist movement, receiving guidance from André Breton. The exhibition included sections such as Lebel peintre and Vénus militantes, displaying a variety of paintings, collages, and archival materials, including pieces he donated. His diverse artistic endeavors encompass painting, sculpture, performance, and poetry, with a notable translation of Allen Ginsberg's 'Howl.' Activism is represented through works like the 1960 'Grand tableau antifasciste collectif' and the 2013 'Labyrinthe,' with contributions from Félix Guattari. Bernard Blistène's catalog frames Lebel as a conduit for revolutionary concepts, underlining his impact on political art.