Artists

John Chamberlain, Pierre Soulages

Press release

Galerie Karsten Greve is pleased to present in its Paris space an exceptional exhibition dedicated to Pierre Soulages and John Chamberlain. On this occasion, a corpus of paintings by Pierre Soulages and sculptures by John Chamberlain will be unveiled, all from the personal collection of Karsten Greve, who, for over 50 years, has played a key role in promoting major contemporary artists, offering an international platform for their work. This exhibition embodies his vision by creating a unique dialogue between two emblematic figures of the post-war avant-garde, with whom the gallery has collaborated over several decades.

Chamberlain and Soulages plunge the viewer into a rich visual and sensory experience, using seemingly opposite processes: colored metal assemblage for one, broad expanses of black paint for the other. Yet each in his own way is a relentless explorer of texture and light. A cross-view between two masters of matter, this exceptional exhibition reveals the obstinate, solitary quest of two resolutely unclassifiable artists.

Undisputed master of the black monochrome, which he explored relentlessly throughout his life, Pierre Soulages (1919-2022) is considered one of the most important and internationally recognized French artists. His career was crowned in 2014 by the opening of a museum in his hometown of Rodez, and in 2019, a retrospective of his works was held at the Louvre, a rare privilege only enjoyed during their lifetime by Braque, Chagall and Picasso.