PRESENTATION

BIOGRAPHY

Marie Laurence Gaudrat was born in Paris among a happy family endowed with a pronounced taste for creativity and hard work. Her artist parents encouraged her to develop her curiosity from a very young age.

The work and personality of painter Jean Martin, who realized the sets and costumes for various plays written by her father Jean Cosmos, made a very strong impression on her, triggering her vocation while she was just a child.

Around the age of 13, she painted her first portraits with oil and started practicing sketching every evening in the studios of Paris. During her first years of high school, she developed strong ties of friendship which kept fortifying her calling and still guide her to this day.

1972

After two years in preparatory classes for art schools, she starts at the age of twenty a more concrete learning experience: thanks to Paul Belmondo, she enters the studio of sculptor Pierre Merlet, at the time head of the restorations of the Assemblée Nationale. A trip to Egypt opens this new chapter of her life.

Back from Egypt, she studies and participates in the restoration of the Assemblée Nationale. She then meets painter Maurice Mazo, whose great knowledge and craftmanship become a guide for her learning of the art of painting. Under his influence, she applies herself to “awaken copies”, copying drawings or paintings of Masters.

1973

First study trip in Florence, Italy. The same year, a second one in Greece.

She studies assiduously in the Morphology classes directed by Pol Lecoeur and Jean François Debord at the Beaux-Arts, the famous art school in Paris.

1973- 1978

Sculpting and painting. She makes dozens of “copies” at the Museum of the Petit Palais and at the Louvre.

1974

Second study trip to Italy: Rome, Florence, Assise.

1976-1977

She resides two years in the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, pursuing her learning independently by studying the human face and painting portraits.

1978

Paul Belmondo finds her a studio in Nogent sur Marne, among the big trees of Watteau’s Park. This huge garden becomes for her both a source of inspiration and a refuge for her compositions.

First personal exhibition at the Cité des Arts in Paris. Paul Belmondo, Jean Carton and Maurice Mazo show their support with their presence at the exhibition.

1979

She meets painter Pierre Eychart who inspires a new direction to her work. With the same desire to express a humanist and loving vision of Nature, she begins a demanding period of landscapes’ studying. Her self-portraits, the portraits she makes of friends or the ones she makes of homeless people, are all parts of the flip side of this same research: organizing and composing her vision.

1979-1989

She regularly paints at Moret-sur-Loing where Pierre Eychart has his studio (Coco the vagabond, The Canal, The Pines Meadow, The Stubble Fields…). She also continues working on her compositions in Nogent (The Balcony in the Sun, Laure in the Studio, Fool who thinks I am not you, Viviane at the Café…).

1982

French Artists Show – Grand Palais: Noon at the Studio – receives the prize Anne Elisabeth Gallia.

1983

Drawing and Watercolor Show – Grand Palais: Viviane ;

Comparison Show – Grand Palais: The Marketplace ;

Has an exhibition each year for the Fall Show – Grand Palais – Member, then member of the Council from 1993 to 1998;

Personal exhibition at the Gallery Claude de France (I love peace, The Studio, Street Agnès Sorel, At the Café, The Marketplace in Nogent, Ablutions …) ;

The first articles talking about her work, written by Patrice Dubois and Michel Marmin, are published in the magazine Marianne.

1984

Paul Louis-Weiller’s Youth Prize for portrait – French Institute;

She makes about twenty engravings , which are presenter by “Studio 52, rue Daguerre at the FIAP;

Evening at Moret is presented at the Fall Show – Grand Palais.

1986

Personal exhibition in the city of Grenoble at Arthaud’s (Farnaz at the Studio, Fool who…, Nude at the Wardrobe, Beautiful Days …) ;

1987

Noufflard Prize – The Reading ;

She is invited by Jean Carton to participate in the Sixth Show of Angers.

1989

Personal exhibition in Pont Aven – Preface by Guy Vignoht;

Personal exhibition at the Gallery Philippe Frégnac, rue Jacob in Paris (Sleep under the Branches, Cagnes, Renoir’s Garden…).

1990

Taylor Foundation’s Prize at the Grand Palais.

1991

Study trip in Andalusia. She paints landscapes of the Sierra, of the Guadalquivir, of Montoro, and Andalusian portraits.

Personal exhibition at the Gallery Frégnac (Lady Monnier, The Washing Place, The Paradou, Marta in Draguignan, The Cabassud Houses in Ville D’Avray…) ;

Personal exhibition at the Gallery Trocmez in Issoire (Véronique’s Nap, Coco,Vagabond, Self-portrait by Pierre’s portrait…).

1992

Personal exhibition at the Gallery Brocante de Crécy.

1994

Painting trip in the region of Vivarais, in the South-East of France;

Illustrations for a collection of poems written by Jeanne Faure Cousin: Vivaraises ;

Prize Frédéric de Carfort – French Foundation;

Trip to India: Travel Diary, Compositions;

Personal exhibition at the Gallery Frégnac (Landscapes of the Beaujolais, Landscapes of the Vivarais, Nasbinals, Portraits of Charles and Victor…).

1995

Personal exhibition at the Gallery Brocante de Crécy – “French Landscapes and Parisian Paintings”.

Participates, as a painter, to the production design of the feature film “ Jefferson in Paris” directed by James Ivory, under the direction of head production designer Guy-Claude François.

1996

Personal exhibition at the Gallery Frégnac (Evening Angelus at Saint Basile, Evening in Vivarais, Parisian Landscapes, Saint Médard, Moustapha’s Portrait, Landscapes of Ardèche…) ;

Study trip and meetings in New-York City;

Makes the painted sets of Jacques Mougenot’s theater play – “Corot” – directed by Jean-Laurent Cochet.

1997

Trip to Mali: Travel Diary, Portraits and Landscapes;

Personal exhibition at the Gallery Frégnac (Ludivine in the Garden-diptych, The Farmhouse of Mr. Bel, Moustapha of Bamako, By the Niger River, The Mosque of Segoukoro …) ;

Participates as a painter to the production design of feature film “Le Bossu”, directed by Philippe de Broccas – Head of production design: Bernard Vezat.

First illustrations for the French publishing company Bayard Presse “Welcome Chick”, after which she’ll make the illustrations for a dozen more albums.

1998

Painting trip in Andalusia: Montoro, Cordoba, Granada, Sevilla;

Personal exhibition at the Gallery Frégnac (The Street in Paris, Rue de l’Arbalète, Monge Marketplace, Landscapes and Portraits of Andalusia…).

1999

Enters the Bénézit;

Participates as a painter to the production design of feature film « Les Enfants du Siècle » directed by Diane Kurys. Head of production design: Bernard Vezat;

Makes the painted sets for the theater play “ Les Fausses Confidences ” by Marivaux, directed by Jean-Laurent Cochet;

Personal exhibition in the city of Poitiers (Cécile Studying Marivaux, Emmanuelle Reading the Vicomte de Bragelonne, The Park, The Corsican Carafe…) ;

The summer, diptyh, at the Fall Show, Grand Palais.

2000

Personal exhibition at the Gallery Frégnac (Cécile’s Slumber – triptych, Chareuil in Bourbonnais, Charnay in Beaujolais, Saint Martin of Castillon, The Heights of Rustrell in Luberon…).

2001

On the initiative of Bernard Leroy and Laure Lawrence, the Association of Friends and Collectors of Marie Laurence Gaudrat is created;

Somogy publishing company publishes a Monograph: One hundred reproductions. Texts written by André Comte-Sponville, Jacques Mougenot and Gilles Perrault;

Participates as a painter to the production design of feature film “Laisser-Passer ” directed by Bertrand Tavernier. Head production designer Emile Ghigo.

2002

Personal exhibition “rétrospective” – Hotel Salomon de Rothschild Paris VIII – 100 paintings;

Study trip in Greece and Tuscany.

2003

Personal exhibition at the Gallery Frégnac (The Patio in Volterra, Evening in Montemagno, The Greek Studio, The Return of the Donkey-driver, Path in Tirassia, The Friends, …);

Participates as a painter to the production design of feature film “C’est le Bouquet” directed by Jeanne Labrune. Head production designer Emile Ghigo;

Makes the painted sets of the theater play “Doit-on le dire” by Eugène Labiche, directed by Jean-Laurent Cochet;

Personal exhibition at The Gallery Côté-Rue in Barbizon (Edith, The Dream 1 & 2, Emmanuelle in the Studio, The Fruit Tree, Village in Drôme, Brantes…) ;

Collective exhibition at the National Foundation of Graphic and Plastic Arts – Paintings, Gouaches, Drawings (Edith in the Garden, Skidding Horses in Nogent, Sandrine, …).

2004

Personal exhibition at the Gallery Frégnac (Pastureland at Dusk in Uzerche, Waiting in the Sun – diptych, Old Palace in Espalion, Aubrac,…) ;

Makes the painted sets for the theater play “Monsieur Vernet” by Jules Renard, as well as for the theater play “29° à l’ombre ” by Eugène Labiche, both directed by Jean-Laurent Cochet;

Personal exhibition at the French Embassy of Washington: “Faces and Landscapes of France” 50 paintings ;

Exhibition remade by the “American for Advancement of Science” in Washington.

2005

Personal exhibition in Plessis at Patrick and Marie Mininger’s – paintings, drawings and gouaches.

2006

Personal exhibition presented by the City Hall of Uzerche in the Espace Vézère. Landscapes and Faces of Corrèze and Italy;

Participates as a painter to the production design of feature film “Le Grand Meaulne” directed by J.D Verhaegh. Head production designer Emile Ghigo.

2007

Personal exhibition at the Gallery Frégnac (Childhood – quadriptych, Noon King of Summers, Snow in Malagnoux, The return of the Herd in Segonzac, The Barn, ……) ;

Study trip in Rome (paintings of Trinita dei Monti, Villa Medicis, the Forum).

2008

Personal exhibition at Carré des Coignard – Nogent sur Marne – Collection of paintings and sculptures, bronzes and terra cottas. Vidéo directed by Eve-Marie Pourcel ;

Painting trip on the way to Santiago de Compostela, between Le Puy and Saint Félix.

2009

Personal exhibition at the Gallery Frégnac – “The Way” (The Road to Conques, Nasbinals, Aubrac, Espalion, Trédou, Estaing, Coubisou, Campuac, Campuac, …) ;

Limited edition of “The way”. Reproduction of 33 paintings accompanied by Psalms.

Participates as a painter to the production design of feature film “La Princesse de Montpensier” directed by Bertrand Tavernier. Head production design Guy-Claude François;

Painting trip in Corrèze at The Bastide: Portraits and Landscapes.

2010

Personal exhibition at the Gallery Barlier, rue de Penthièvre Paris VIII – Catalog with a preface written by André Comte-Sponville (Raymond, The Beautiful Carpenter, The Work and Days, Spring in the Studio, The Bastide…) ;

Painting trip in Douarnenez and in Caux country. Portraits of sailors, Sea landscapes, Cliffs, …;

Personal exhibition at the Castle of Villandry – “Gardens and Summer Days” (Laure’s Orchard, The Garden Tree, Florent’s House, Summer, The Path in Itsassous, Apple Pickers, Sullyvan, Praying in the Wheat Fields…) ;

Henri Carvallo orders his own portrait and poses in his gardens. The portrait is permanently displayed in the Castle.

2011

Personal exhibition at the Gallery Frégnac (Saint-Pierre’s Cliffs, The Small Paving Stones, Etretat, Douarnenez, The Carpenter, Forgiveness, The Plomar’h, Agnès in Trégastel…) ;

Personal exhibition at the Pavilion of Bonne in Grenoble (The Garden Tree – triptych, First Sun, The Studio during Spring, Landscapes of the Dauphiné …).

2012

Trip to Morocco – Travel Diary – Faces and Painted Compositions;

Personal exhibition at the Gallery Barlier – “Landscapes of France, Spring in Marrakech, Brittany and Bretons” (Ourika Valley, Fishermen in Essaouira, Ornans, Sullyvan, Douarnenez, Deep-sea Fishermen,…). New catalog.

Film directed by B. Mélot.

2013

Second trip to Morocco, High Atlas – Studies of faces and landscapes;

Personal exhibition at the Gallery Mezzo, rue de l’Université Paris VII – Sculptures (bronzes and terra cottas). Drawings, paintings. Catalog;

Studies of horses in Chantilly, in Longchamps, in Vincennes, in the stud farm of Pin…

2014

Personal exhibition at the Pavilion of Bonne in Grenoble (The Vale, Marrakech, The Donkey, Portraits…) ;

Personal exhibition at the Gallery Mezzo – “Horse and Horserider” (Chantilly, Stables in Vincennes, The Stud Farm of Pin, Longchamp, …). Catalog;

Trip to Italy: Parma, Lake Maggiore.

2016

Personal exhibition “Seasons” – Valérie Michelin’s studio in Paris (Work in the Fields, The Four Seasons, Harvest in Touraine, Nectar and Cristina, The Gallop 1 & 2, Saint Julien of Toursac, The Bull of Clos Masure, Lake Maggiore,…). Catalog “Seasons”.

2017

Personal exhibition at the Gallery Vaujany in Grenoble, retrospective and recent paintings. Preface written by Patrick Le Bihan;

Personal exhibition “This Summer…” – Valérie Michelin’s studio in Paris (Aurore’s mornings, The Studio’s Door, In the Garden, Seashores,…).

2018

Personal exhibition “In the Shadow of Giants” – Valérie Michelin’s studio in Paris (The Heights of Apremont, The Great Injured Oak Tree, The Path’s Memory,In the Shadow of Great Valleys, My Dear Apple Tree, Based on Titien, Based on Poussin, Based on Géricault, …). Catalog with a preface written by Bruno Gousset.

2019

Exhibition at the Rosa Bonheur Museum with Pierre Risacher from June to October;

Study trip in China during the month of May;

Personal exhibition “Seasons” at the Castle of Villandry – September;

Exhibition “Viewpoints between ground and sea” – Valérie Michelin’s studio in Paris, with Pierre Risacher (Saint-Malo, The Wave, The Painter and the Peasant, Agnès on the Beach, The Feet in the Sand, Pierre in Front of the Sea, Afternoon in Veules-lès-Roses, …).

2020

Exhibition at Valérie Michelin’s studio, with Pierre Risacher (The Child with the Cards, Painting in the Garden, Joséphine’s Afternoons, The Cherry Tree, The Picking, Painters, Ernest, The Flight to Egypt based on Caravaggio, …);

Publication of “Diaries 2020”;

She receives from the French state the title of Knight in the Order of Arts and Letters.

2021

A whole section is dedicated to her work in the literary review “Faites entrer l’infini”.