Bertrand Girard | Artist Profile Photo
Bertrand Girard
Nice, France
French artist Bertrand Girard crafts Parisian scenes from his creative vision, capturing emotions and experiences through an impressionistic lens. "Motivated by nostalgia, I began to paint imaginary people in cafes, restaurants, and Parisian atmospheres or entirely fictional interior scenes," says Bertrand. His artistic journey began at the age of 8 when his parents sat him with an easel in front of the Palace of Versailles, initiating a path that would define his artistic career. Since then, his dedication to conveying the essence of life through his art has deepened—a pursuit that he consistently refines to this day.
Studio Photo 1

Artist Statement

I am a French artist living and working in the south of France, where I use a mix of techniques, primarily oil painting, to convey the emotions and experiences that inspire me. My journey in art began at age eight when my parents set me up with paint, an easel, and a canvas in front of the Palace of Versailles, challenging me to paint for an audience of tourists. Though the painting has since disappeared, the experience stayed with me, planting the seed for a lifelong creative path.

In my early years, I focused on still lifes and landscapes, avoiding portraits, which felt too complex. But nostalgia has drawn me to paint people in imagined scenes—from lively Parisian cafés to quiet interior spaces—capturing both real and imaginary moments that reflect Paris's charm and hidden beauty.

Influenced by the expressive traditions of the French school and artists like Pierre Soulages and Edward Hopper, my work doesn’t aim to deliver a specific message; instead, I hope to capture the essence of a moment. My formal education at the Ecole de Versailles, introduced by my mother and later at the Ecole des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, has shaped my approach, bringing my visions and interpretations of life to the canvas.

Artist Background

École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs
Master of Fine Arts, 1977
Ecole des Beaux Arts de Versailles
Bachelor of Arts, 1974
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