Michel François

1/32

Michel François, Interface Pavillion, 2010

Michel François (b. 1956 in Saint-Trond, Belgium) is a conceptual artist living and working in Brussels, Belgium, whose practice encompasses sculpture, video, photography, painting, printed matter, and installation. He attended École de Recherche Graphique in Brussels. Recent solo and two-person exhibitions include a sculptural installation on the Esplanade Solidarność 1980 at the European Parliament, Brussels (with Ann Veronica Janssens); Xavier Hufkens, Brussels; Mennour, Paris; Thomas Dane Gallery, London; Fondation d’Enterprise Hermès, Brussels; and Bortolami, New York. Institutional presentations include Contre Nature at Bozar, Brussels (2023); Panopticon, Yarat Contemporary Art Centre, Baku (2022); Pièce à conviction, Middelheim Museum, Antwerp (2016); Nineteen thousand posters. 1994-2016, MAC’s Grand Hornu, Boussu (2011) and Frac île-de-France (2016); Plans d’évasion, SMAK, Ghent and IAC, Villeurbanne (2009-10); and most recently, Contre nature, a major survey of his work at BOZAR in Brussels (2023). His work is held in the collections of SMAK, Ghent; Musée d'art moderne et contemporain, Geneva; Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; Pinault Foundation, Venice, Italy; and Museo Jumex, Mexico City, among others.

Exhibitions

Featured Image (Installation View) of exhibtion: Contre Nature

Contre Nature

16 Mar – 21 Jul 2023

Bozar, Brussels, BE
Featured Image (Installation View) of exhibtion: The Song of the Araponga

The Song of the Araponga

28 Jun – 9 Aug 2019

39 Walker
Featured Image (Installation View) of exhibtion: The Absent Museum

The Absent Museum

2 Apr – 13 Aug 2017

Weils Contemporary Art Centre
Featured Image (Installation View) of exhibtion: Michel François, Liz Larner, Tony Lewis and Virginia Overton

Michel François, Liz Larner, Tony Lewis and Virginia Overton

10 Nov – 22 Dec 2016

Bortolami
Featured Image (Installation View) of exhibtion: Incorporated! Les Ateliers de Rennes – biennale d’art contemporain

Incorporated! Les Ateliers de Rennes – biennale d’art contemporain

10 Oct – 11 Dec 2016

Halle de la Courrouze, Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande
Featured Image (Installation View) of exhibtion: Nineteen thousand posters.1994-2016

Nineteen thousand posters.1994-2016

12 Mar – 24 Aug 2016

Frac-Île-de-France
Featured Image (Installation View) of exhibtion: Tierra Vaga

Tierra Vaga

6 Feb 2016

Casa Wabi, Puerto Escondido
Featured Image (Installation View) of exhibtion: Philaetchouri

Philaetchouri

6 Apr – 30 Apr 2015

La Verrière, Fondation D'Enterprise Hermès
Featured Image (Installation View) of exhibtion: Pieces of Evidence

Pieces of Evidence

21 Feb – 20 Mar 2014

Bortolami
Featured Image (Installation View) of exhibtion: Michel François

Michel François

25 Feb – 1 May 2010

Bortolami
Featured Image (Installation View) of exhibtion: Plans D’Evasion

Plans D’Evasion

10 Oct 2009 – 1 Jan 2010

S.M.A.K.
Featured Image (Installation View) of exhibtion: Michel François

Michel François

21 Feb – 27 Mar 2008

Bortolami
Featured Image (Installation View) of exhibtion: Theater of Operations

Theater of Operations

12 Jan – 11 Feb 2006

Bortolami
Featured Image (Installation View) of exhibtion: 1999 Venice Biennial: Horror Vacui

1999 Venice Biennial: Horror Vacui

13 Jun – 17 Nov 1999

Ca’ Giustinian, Venice

Press

Orlando Whitehead 'Eludes literal interpretation': Evocative new artwork unveiled in front of European Parliament The Brussels Times Jan 2024Scott Indrisek Ann Veronica Janssens and Michel François - The Song of the Arapongo ArtReview Sept 2019Cultured Gallery Peeping: New York Heats Up With A New Wave of Summer Exhibitions Cultured Magazine Jul 2019Angela Brown Look, Look Again: Bortolami Group Show Considers the Art of Close, Careful Viewing Artnews Dec 2016Ellie Bronson The Independent: Calm Joy Amidst Art Fair Claustrophobia artcritical Mar 2012 The Art Fair Edition: The Sky, Brought Indoors The Daily Beast Mar 2011Chris Sharp Michel François at kamel mennour, Paris Art Agenda Jan 2011GENT Final Days: Michel François at S.M.A.K. Metropolis M Jan 2010Guillaume Désanges It’s All There: Unusual Suspects (Fractals, Sculptures, Suspension, and Symmetry) Plans D’Evasion Jan 2010Edward Leffingwell Michel François at Bortolami Dayan,” Art in America Art in America May 2006Brian Sholis Michel François Artforum Mar 2006Roberta Smith Art in Review; Michel François The New York Times Feb 2006Roberta Smith Michel François The New York Times Feb 2006Hans Theys Jigsaw Pieces for a Changing Story: A Few Words on the Exhibitions of Michel François Hans Theys Oct 2002Laurie Attias Michel François Frieze May 1999

Publications

Book cover on plain gray background with title of  Michel François: Photographe

Michel François: Photographe

Gallery RueVisconti, Paris
2011

Book cover on plain gray background with title of Plans d’Evasion

Plans d’Evasion

Roma Publications, Amsterdam
2010

Book cover on plain gray background with title of Michel François: La Plante En Nous Die Pflanze In Uns

Michel François: La Plante En Nous Die Pflanze In Uns

Steidl, Gottingen
2000

Book cover on plain gray background with title of Michel François: Where I Am, Seen From The Air

Michel François: Where I Am, Seen From The Air

La Lettre Volee
1999

Book cover on plain gray background with title of Michel Francois En Meme Temps

Michel Francois En Meme Temps

Phillip Galgiani, New York
1998

Book cover on plain gray background with title of Michel Francois: The World and the Arms. An Hearthly Residence

Michel Francois: The World and the Arms. An Hearthly Residence

F.R.A.C. Limousin, Limoges
1997