Philippe Pasqua portrait - Photo by Romain Mounier-Poulat

Philippe Pasqua

August 15, 2015

Philippe Pasqua is a self-taught French painter and sculptor, a master of capturing fleeting nature of mortal existence. The artist is known for his boldly raw nudes and sensual up-close and personal portraits, and sculptures created from materials such as human and animal skulls embellished with precious metals and butterfly wings. Pasqua was born in 1965 in Grasse, France. He dedicated himself to painting when he was 18.

Lucille, 2003

Philippe Pasqua - Lucille, 2003
Philippe Pasqua - Lucille, 2003

Disabilities, differences, obscenity and the sacred are some of Pasqua’s favorite topics. As an example, he portrays the ones from the margins of society - transsexuals, prostitutes, handicapped, people with Down’s syndrome and other disabilities, or people who are blind. Facial features of his portrayed subjects seem to be painted on as if cut in with a knife – an abstracted flesh lies in stark contrast with the peaceful and eerie expressions of his subjects.

Pasqua's Paintings

Left Philippe Pasqua - Constance, 2011, Right Philippe Pasqua - Untitled, 2012
Left: Philippe Pasqua - Constance, 2011 / Right: Philippe Pasqua - Untitled, 2012

Philippe Pasqua’s representation of flesh references Bacon, while his reverence for portraiture and loose brushstrokes is influenced by Hals. For the viewer, it seems that his paintings with loosely rendered, expressive brushstrokes don’t represent skin, but rather flesh. Opposite to his large-format paintings of flesh and bone, Pasqua creates drawings and layered, mixed-media works on paper in which the figure becomes a halo, mist, smoke – emerging from the sketched contours and textures.

Skull Sculptures and Tattooed Vanitas

Left Philippe Pasqua - Untitled, Right Philippe Pasqua - Crane Face Tatouage, Violet, 2012
Left: Philippe Pasqua - Untitled, 2014 / Right: Philippe Pasqua - Crane Face Tatouage, Violet, 2012

Since 1990, Pasqua’s work has been featured in numerous group and one-man exhibitions throughout Europe and also in Hong Kong, Mexico, South Korea, Israel and the United States. His artworks were also featured in several publications, from The New York Times and Vogue to Le Monde and Le Figaro. He is represented by UNIX Gallery in New York.

Philippe Pasqua lives and works in Paris.

All images courtesy of UNIX Gallery

Download W.News app today and read everything you need to know about the art world on the go
button
Can We Help?

Have a question or a technical issue? Want to learn more about our services to art dealers? Let us know and you'll hear from us within the next 24 hours.