Étienne Gros was born on 20 March 1962 in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, France. He studied at the Beaux-Arts in Épinal and Versailles, and graduated from the Beaux-Arts in Paris between 1981 and 1986. During his studies, he frequented the studios of renowned artists such as Iscan, Olivier Debré, and Vladimir Vélickovic.
Étienne Gros is an artist whose work focuses on exploring the human body. He uses various media to represent the body in all its complexity and beauty. His artistic approach is characterised by tight framing that highlights the material and texture of the body, often through pigments applied to paper before being transferred to canvas. A distinctive technique of Gros’s is flame drawing, where he uses smoke from a candle or oil lamp to create shapes on paper. This unique method allows him to create works that seem alive and ephemeral, capturing random moments of grace.
Since 1990, Étienne Gros has exhibited regularly in France and abroad. He has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions in prestigious galleries in Paris, Lille, Nantes, Annecy, as well as internationally in Chicago, Munich and Brussels. In 2006, he received the Grand Prix Azart at the Salon Mac, an important recognition in his career.
Gros’ work is influenced by his sculptural eye, seeking to give a three-dimensional dimension to his paintings. His works play with abstraction and figuration, creating a tension between the two that gives an impression of volume and movement. The bodies depicted in his works often seem to emerge from the canvas, inviting the viewer to interact with them.
Étienne Gros continues to live and work in the Paris region, where he pursues his artistic exploration of the human body with a modern and poetic approach.
