Transatlantic: Figurations of the 80s

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jean Charles Blais, François Boisrond, Roberto Cabot, Luciano Castelli, Saint Clair Cemin, Sandro Chia, Robert Combas, Hervé Di Rosa, Keith Haring, Kenny Scharf, Tseng Kwong-Chi, Catherine Violle

Opera Gallery is pleased to present Transatlantic: Figurations in the 80s, a group exhibition curated by Pascale Le Thorel. Offering a comprehensive exploration of 1980s figurative art on both sides of the Atlantic, this exhibition captures the dynamic and multifaceted spirit of this transformative period in art history.

The 1980s were a decade of significant artistic shifts, as the art world moved away from the dominance of minimalism and conceptual art. In response to the socio-political climates of their respective countries, artists in the United States, France, and wider Europe embraced new forms of figuration.

‘Transatlantic: Figurations in the 80s’, curated by Pascale Le Thorel, brings together a remarkable ensemble of works that exemplifies this period’s rich diversity of styles and approaches, reflecting the broader cultural currents that defined the era.

Pascale Le Thorel, known for her extensive curatorial experience with leading institutions, has also authored the exhibition catalog, providing fascinating insight that frames the works within their historical and cultural contexts, while also examining how these aesthetic developments during this influential decade continue to inform contemporary art.

The exhibition features iconic works by American artists such as Keith Haring, Kenny Scharf and Andy Warhol who used figuration to explore themes of consumerism, media culture, and urban life. Their works capture the essence of the Reagan-era United States, characterised by both a vibrant pop culture and a critical examination of societal norms.

In contrast, French artists like Jean Charles Blais, Hervé Di Rosa, Robert Combas and François Boisrond leading figures in the Figuration Libre movement, used figuration to address issues of identity, politics, and the human condition. Their works also reflect the unique socio-political environment of France, offering a powerful counterpoint to the American perspective and contributing to a rich dialogue on how different cultural contexts shape artistic expressions. Women artists are also represented, with works by Catherine Viollet, highlighting her vital contribution to the artistic developments of the 80’s and Niki de Saint Phalle for her support and the inspiration she provided to this new figurative movement.

Curator Pascale Le Thorel remarked, “The exhibition Transatlantic: Figurations of the 1980s presents works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jean Charles Blais, François Boisrond, Roberto Cabot, Luciano Castelli, Saint Clair Cemin, Sandro Chia, Robert Combas, Hervé Di Rosa, Keith Haring, Kenny Scharf, Tseng Kwong-Chi, Catherine Viollet, and more—artists who were among the most vibrant figures in the new wave of figurative art that spanned both the United States and Europe. This presentation examines the cultural zeitgeist and aesthetic trends of the 1980s and the overlapping pop cultural influences ranging from comics to fashion to punk rock to street culture. Dynamic in medium and narrative tone, the art created during this period left a significant mark in art history”.

Opera Gallery Paris’ exhibition space is transformed with immersive scenography by Cécile Degos, Parisian scenographer known for her ambitious designs and attention to detail. Her vision for this exhibition supports the thematic and formal concerns of the ensemble, allowing the audience to fully engage with the multicultural and interdisciplinary dialogue at the heart of ‘Transatlantic: Figurations in the 80s’.