About
New York based french artist Fleur Spolidor loves living abroad to discover new cultures and melting chocolate squares in her cup of hot tea on a rainy day. Born in Paris, she spent her childhood visiting castles and museums with her shutterbugs parents. This upbringing inevitably led her to study Art History and Fine Art in different studios and at the University. After receiving her M.F.A she taught Art History and Fine Art at the University and in private Schools of Design. In 2003 she moved to the Bay Area and started researching its history, this led her to compose paintings about North California’s culture and way of life. In 2015 she started a new series of paintings called “Alice", in which she mixes the story of Alice in Wonderland with the History of San Francisco and Paris to represent the schizophrenic state of these ever changing cities. For Spolidor, “Alice” could be anyone who lives or work in a large metropolis and has to face its challenges: traffic, pollution, cost of living... Eco-conscious, Spolidor layers in her work recycled and found materials like papers, fabrics or plastics and metals. Waste that would take years to break down and disappear in a landfill. She either prints with this different materials or leave them in the work. Spolidor’s palette is bold and colorful while her subject matters raise awareness on worrisome issues like women’s rights and climate change.
Art can impact us in many ways. A painting can transport us somewhere we’ve never been, a photograph can introduce us to a new world of light and shadow, and a sculpture can allow us to interact with the human form in ways we never have before. The artwork of Fleur Spolidor does something entirely different, it introduces us to a world we’ve never even imagined. By tapping into imagery that is familiar, an Alice from a Wonderland far beyond the strangeness Lewis Carroll dreamt, well-manicured suburban lawns, and antique photos of our ancestors, Spolidor leverages our shared memories and dreams before disorienting us with unexpected settings and narratives. The effect is thought-provoking, exciting, and perhaps disturbing, all at the same time. In an age of countless distractions, when everything is controversial, but nothing is shocking, Spolidor achieves something noteworthy in her work - she captivates our attention. Each work invites us to look, ponder and reflect. We experience tension and repose, calm and confusion all at once. And we want more! As you explore her website, I invite you to take your time, to involve your imagination and senses, and to experience the artwork of Fleur Spolidor.
J. Jason Horejs
Owner, Xanadu Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
Education
2001-2010 University Paris X Nanterre, France. PhD Contemporary Art History (Never presented) “Comparative Study of 3 printmakers working with Crown Point Press in San Francisco: Robert Bechtle, Wayne Thiebaud and Christopher Brown”
1999-2000 Ateliers Beaux-Arts Glacière Paris,France. Instructor Frank Denon “Printmaking: Acquire the rigorous gestures and tools of engraving, and confront different contemporary approaches of the printed image.”
1996-2000 University Paris X Nanterre, Master Contemporary Art History “A comparison between the Living Theatre of Judith Malina and Julian Beck with the Arte Povera movement ”
Solo Exhibitions
2019 - Art Ventures Gallery “Alice of the Silicon Valley,” Menlo Park CA, USA.
2018 - One life Gallery Space “Alice in San Francisco,” San Carlos, CA, USA.
2015 - San Carlos Chamber of Commerce"San Carlos: the City of Good Living,” CA, USA.
2016 - City Arts of San Mateo Art Gallery“Alice in San Francisco,” San Mateo, CA, USA.
2015 - San Mateo County History Museum“San Carlos: the City of Good Living,” Redwood City, CA, USA.
2013 - Google Headquarter,"Sweet monsters," Mountain View, CA,USA.
2012 - Alliance Francaise of San Francisco "San Francisco on Fire,” CA, USA.
2011 - Restaurant Schosshalde "Beautiful," Bern, Switzerland.
2011 - Vinothek Ugarte "Roses,"Zurich, Switzerland.
2010 - Estiv’art Festival, "Portraits," Monesties, France.
Juried Exhibitions and events
2018 - 3 fish studios “BIG INK large scale woodblock printing” San Francisco, CA, USA Jury: Lyell Castonguay Directors of Big Ink.
2018 - Pacific Pinball Museum “KA-POW Heroic women” Alameda CA, USA, Jury: NCWCA board and members
2018 - Pacific Art League “Works on Paper”, Palo Alto, CA, USA. Jury: Ric Ambrose Executive Director at the Richmond Art Center.
2017 - Triton Museum of Arts, “Salon at the Triton 2017, Competition & Exhibition” Santa Clara CA, USA. Jury: Cherri Lakey and Brian Eder, Anno Domini Gallery, San Jose CA
2016 - Pacific Art League, "Landscape, Seascape and Urbanscape", Palo Alto, CA, USA. Jury: Joan McLoughlin, Owner of The McLoughlin Gallery in San Francisco, CA
Honorable Mention for "Real Estate Rabbit Hole" Acrylic on Canvas 36"x36"
2016 - Pacific Art League,"The 95th anniversary exhibition" Palo Alto, CA, USA. Jury: Jim Smyth, Adjunct Professor of Drawing and Painting at the College of San Mateo, San Mateo CA
3rd place for "Multitasking" Acrylic on Canvas 36"x36"
2015 - Pacific Art League,"Spring is in the Air " Palo Alto, CA, USA. Jury: Catharine Clark, owner of the Catharine Clark Gallery in San Francisco CA
Selected Group Exhibition
2019 - “Mother’s little Helper” Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles,CA USA.
2019 - “Homes” Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles,CA USA.
2019 - “Alphabet soup” Studio Gallery San Francisco, CA, USA.
2019 - ”Artist Showcase” Pacific Art League Palo Alto CA,USA.
2018 - ”Liberty” Arc Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA,USA.
2018 - “Tiny” Studio Gallery San Francisco, CA, USA.
2018 - “Delicious” Studio Gallery San Francisco, CA , USA.
2017 - “Tiny” Studio Gallery San Francisco, CA, USA
2016 - "Not a Lemon show" Scott Ellsworth Gallery, San Francisco, CA,USA.
2015 - "Paris-San Francisco” Galerie Mistral, Redwood Shores, CA,USA.
2013 - "Small" Paolo Mejia Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA,USA
2010 - “Schweizer Kunst Supermarkt” Solothurn, Switzerland.
Public Collections:
“San Carlos History” San Carlos Chambers of Commerce, San Carlos CA, USA Donated 2019
“SMCHM 1906-2012” ”San Mateo County History Museum. Redwood City CA, USA. Donated 2018.
Commemorative plaque, Copper engraving, Pyramidion of The Luxor Obelisk, Place de la Concorde, Paris, France, Acquired 1998.
Benefit Auction:
2019 - “Object: Art. Where art and technology intersect” Art In Action, Art auction, Menlo Park, CA, USA
2016 - "Nasty Women POP UP Show" 70% of the proceeds of sales went to a non-profit supporting women, The Main Gallery, Redwood City, CA
2014 - "The Painted Chair" Woman's Club of Palo Alto and the Pacific Art League. Art auction, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
2012 - La Casa de las Madres, shelter for battered women, art auction, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Artist Talk:
2020 - ““Can art contribute to raising awareness on climate change” Work in the city, Amsterdam, NL
2019 - “Recycling in Art” Los Gatos Art Docents, Los Gatos CA
2015 - "Paris-San Francisco: between History Painting and Story painting" Galerie Mistral, Redwood Shores, CA
2014 - “ San Francisco: History paintings” Los Gatos Art Association, Los Gatos , CA
Working with the following galleries:
Cactus Gallery Los Angeles CA, Since 2019 www.cactusgalleryla.com
Art Ventures Gallery Menlo Park CA Since 2019 www.artventuresgallery.com
Xanadu Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ, Since 2017 www.xanadugallery.com
Studio Gallery San Francisco, CA, Since 2017 www.studiogallerysf.com
Wonderland SF, San Francisco, CA, Since 2016 www.wonderlandsf.com
Golden Moon Gallery, Redwood City, CA,2016 -2019 www.goldenmoongallery.com
The Main Gallery Redwood City, CA, 2016-2017 www.themaingallery.org
Ugallery San Francisco, CA, 2016-2017 www.ugallery.com