In drawing, painting, sculpture, and installation, François Morellet experimented with geometries on paper, canvas, and in space. In the 1960s, he began working with light, and today his works are considered milestones in the art history of neon lighting. He uses not only the light source as artistic material, but also the entire technical system with cables, connectors, and transformers.
For each of his works, he followed mathematical principles or developed his own sets of rules. His compositions are visual systems composed of repetitions and variations of technical materials that are only completed in the viewer’s perception. His works contributed to the understanding of the viewer’s visual experience as an integral part of the artistic medium.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2025 Angers (fr), ARTOTHÈQUE D’ANGERS
2025 Schwäbisch Hall (de), KUNSTHALLE WÜRTH
2024–2025 Metz (fr), CENTRE POMPIDOU
2024–2025 Galerie Oniris (fr), SMALL FORMATS AND WORKS ON PAPER
2024 London (uk), THE MAYOR GALLERY
2024 London (uk), ANNELY JUDA FINE ART
2024 Milan (it), INVERNIZZI GALLERY
2024 Museum Ritter (de), HOMMAGE À LA FRANCE
2019–2024 Shanghai (cn), CENTRE POMPIDOU x WEST BUND MUSEUM
2023 Beijing (cn), ESPACE LOUIS VUITTON
2023 Luxembourg (lu), JEUX D’OBJECTIVITÉ
2022 London (uk), THE MAYOR GALLERY
2022 Zurich (ch), HAUSER & WIRTH
Since 1960 Regular exhibition activities worldwide
CAREER
Since 1950 Painting, self-taught
1948 – 1975 Cholet (fr), Running the family-owned toy factory “Morellet-Guérineau”
BIO
2016 Died in Cholet (fr)
1946 Married
1926 Born in Cholet (fr)
LINKS
francoismorellet.com
LICHTROUTEN Luedenscheid 2025
WATER LIGHT FESTIVAL Brixen / Neustift 2023
[html5_video id=’534′]Video: Eric Wälz, Studio Bettina Pelz.