Julien Gardair

Interviews by Brainard Carey

Julien Gardair portrait by Catherine Talese Julien Gardair is a French artist based in New York City since 2007. His cutout paintings, installations, sculptures, and works on paper are known for their adherence to strict sustainable systems. Gardair's art frequently incorporates a blend of languages and stories, creating a diverse and multilayered visual experience. Julien Gardair’s recent paintings reveal his innovative approach to art. Drawing inspiration from the Supports/Surfaces movement in France and the Pattern/Decoration movement in the United States, Gardair’s art is a fusion of materiality and pattern, along with the structural constraints of Minimalism. These multi-faceted pieces are a synthesis of vibrant paintings and textile works and are created by employing techniques like folding, cutting, and stitching. His work challenges the viewer’s perception of materiality. His sustainable approach ensures that no parts of the paintings are discarded, nodding to the global potential of restoration and upcycling. He holds an MFA from the École Nationale Supérieure d’Arts de Paris Cergy and his work has been shown throughout Europe and the United States. Notably, he was included in La couleur toujours recommencée, the first exhibition of the re-vamped Musée Fabre in Montpellier along with Joan Mitchell, Sam Francis, Shirley Jaffe, Peter Soriano and others. He has had solo exhibitions at Galerie Jean Fournier, Paris, Musée d’Art Moderne de Céret and Bric Arts, Brooklyn. He was commissioned by the New York MTA Arts & Design to create a permanent installation for the 18th Avenue and Kings Highway stations in Brooklyn. The Mobilier National also commissioned him to design a Savonnerie carpet on display at the Elysée Palace. The exhibition Julien Gardair / Melanie Vote: Concurrence, offers an intimate exploration of works by both artists, who beyond their individual artistic pursuits, share a bond as a married couple. The show, presented by Garvey|Simon takes place at DFN Projects, 16 East 79th Street until November 3rd, 2023, Monday to Friday from 11 am to 4 pm. Julien Gardair, Ascension, 2023, 16x12in, Acrylic on canvas, folded, cut, stitched, and stretched over wooden stretchers. Julien Gardair, Wide open, 2023, 16x12in, Acrylic on canvas, folded, cut, stitched, and stretched over wooden stretchers. Left: Julien Gardair, Zaouji, 2023, 16x12in, Acrylic on reclaimed pants and canvas, folded, cut, stitched, and stretched over wooden stretchers. Center: Melanie Vote, Flamboyan, 2023, 16 x 12, oil on paper on wood. Right: Julien Gardair, Striped, 2023, 16x12in, Acrylic on reclaimed t-shirt and canvas, folded, cut, stitched and stretched over wooden stretchers.