Jacques Pinon

Jacques Pinon is accustomed to many forms of artistic expression, as attested by his impressive body of work that includes paintings,sculptures, tapestries, and stainglass windows. He lives and tirelessly pursues his craft in a workshop in the countryside on the borders of Allier and Creuse departments in central France. His stainglass windows decorates numerous churches and mansions in this area and beyond.As a conceptual pioneer, he has forged new paths for this particular kind of art form, where time, space, and light each play their part and merge into a spiritual epiphany. In 1952, a meeting with the famed architect LE CORBUSIER developed into a collaboration between them around architecture and design (with the help of Lucien HERVE): LE CORBUSIER was interested in integrating stainglass windows as a component of modern architecture. Jacques PINON's contemporary tapestries have been woven in the traditional workshop of J. PICAUD and J. FADAT, in the city of Aubusson (Creuse), which boasts a tradition of tapestry going back to the 14th century. These workshops were also known for having crafted tapestries by CALDER, BRAQUE, AUJAME, TOFFOLI. Another meaningful encounter was with Jean COCTEAU and his adopted son, the actor Edouard DERMIT. COCTEAU was interested in designing stainglass windows that would be crafted by Jacques PINON. The tapestries by J. PINON are sold and exhibited worldwide. in 1969, his tapestries were shown at the Galerie Verrières in the city of Lyon, alongside works by Jean LURCAT and GIGLIOLI. Jacques PINON's paintings and sculptures are the crossroad of many worlds. The light in his paintings is sharp and vibrant like a summer afternoon, but it radiates from a mystical core. Working with color and texture, J. PINON uses both throught the use of different techniques and styles, always fuelled by his thirst for new artistic forms. Amoong his many exhibitions, it is worth noting the Salon des Réalités nouvelles in 1953 and the Fénéon Foundation exhibition in 1954 for which he was awarded the Fénéon Prize. He has met and/or befriended a number of respected artists: YVARAL, Michel POURTEYRON, the surrealist painter Alex BONNIER, Michel TOURLIERE, ARBARETAZ, the writers Jean CASSOU and François AUGIERAS. He is the custodian of the archives of the American sculptor John STORRS. Last but not least, he is a poet. Could these various artistic calls be genetic? the poet and playwright Alfred DE MUSSET - called the French Byron - is PINON's great grand uncle. His great grandfather, Eugène COURTOT, was director of a workshop at the centuries old Gobelins tapestry manufacture. His grandfather, also named Eugène COURTOT, was a printmaker and regular illustrator for the publisher Armand COLIN before photography replaced artistic renditions. His great grand father, Paul SELLIER, was an artist a major illustrator for Armand COLIN's book and was a friend ( and neighbour in the city of Meudon near Paris)of RODIN and DEGAS. P...