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
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Contre Nature
16 Mar – 21 Jul 2023
Bozar, Brussels, BE
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The Song of the Araponga
28 Jun – 9 Aug 2019
39 Walker
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The Absent Museum
2 Apr – 13 Aug 2017
Weils Contemporary Art Centre
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Michel François, Liz Larner, Tony Lewis and Virginia Overton
10 Nov – 22 Dec 2016
Bortolami
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Incorporated! Les Ateliers de Rennes – biennale d’art contemporain
10 Oct – 11 Dec 2016
Halle de la Courrouze, Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande
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Nineteen thousand posters.1994-2016
12 Mar – 24 Aug 2016
Frac-Île-de-France
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Tierra Vaga
6 Feb 2016
Casa Wabi, Puerto Escondido
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Philaetchouri
6 Apr – 30 Apr 2015
La Verrière, Fondation D'Enterprise Hermès
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Pieces of Evidence
21 Feb – 20 Mar 2014
Bortolami
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Michel François
25 Feb – 1 May 2010
Bortolami
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Plans D’Evasion
10 Oct 2009 – 1 Jan 2010
S.M.A.K.
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Michel François
21 Feb – 27 Mar 2008
Bortolami
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Theater of Operations
12 Jan – 11 Feb 2006
Bortolami
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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 1999Publications
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Michel François: Photographe
Gallery RueVisconti, Paris
2011
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Plans d’Evasion
Roma Publications, Amsterdam
2010
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Michel François: La Plante En Nous Die Pflanze In Uns
Steidl, Gottingen
2000
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Michel François: Where I Am, Seen From The Air
La Lettre Volee
1999
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Michel Francois En Meme Temps
Phillip Galgiani, New York
1998
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