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Pierre Alechinsky

Pierre Alechinsky

Belgium • 1927 • 982 followers
Featured in: Best sellers Master Artists

What matters are the adventures of painting.

Nationality

Belgian

Categories

Printmakers

Artistic movements

Surrealism, Illustration

Themes

Abstract, Portrait, Conceptual

Biography

Born in Brussels in 1927, Pierre Alechinsky is a renowned Belgian artist known for his dynamic, calligraphic style and his influential role in the Cobra movement.

In 2024 and 2025, Pierre Alechinsky's work continues to be celebrated through notable exhibitions:

"Alechinsky, Pinceau Voyageur" at Fondation Boghossian, Brussels (October 19, 2024 – March 16, 2025): This exhibition delves into Alechinsky's lifelong fascination with Japanese calligraphy and his collaborations with poets like Henri Michaux and Christian Dotremont. It showcases his journey and the evolution of his artistic expression. 

"Ne fêter ni l'an ni la vitesse" at Galerie Lelong & Co., Paris (January 16 – March 8, 2025): Centered around a significant lithograph created nearly three decades ago, this exhibition features a collection of Alechinsky's prints. The showcased lithograph exemplifies his signature style, presenting a dynamic central image surrounded by smaller, detailed vignettes.

From 1944 to 1948, Alechinsky studied typography, photography, and printmaking at the École nationale supérieure d'architecture et des arts décoratifs de la Cambre in Brussels. During this time, he discovered the works of Michaux, of Dubuffet, and of the Surrealists, which greatly influenced his artistic development. In 1947, he held his first solo exhibition, marking the beginning of a prolific career.

In 1949, Alechinsky joined the avant-garde Cobra movement , founded by artists Christian Dotremont, Asger Jorn, and Karel Appel. The movement embraced spontaneity, expressive gestures, and a rejection of formal abstraction, principles that remained central to Alechinsky's work. Even after Cobra dissolved, he continued to uphold its spirit, famously stating, "Cobra is my school."

Moving to Paris, he trained as an engraver at Atelier 17 under Stanley William Hayter and developed friendships with key figures like Alberto Giacometti, Bram van Velde, and Walasse Ting. During this period, he also explored Japanese calligraphy, drawn to its fluid spontaneity, and traveled to Kyoto, where he created a documentary on traditional Japanese art.

In the 1960s, Alechinsky made frequent visits to New York, where he embraced acrylic painting, introduced to him by Walasse Ting. This technique enabled him to develop his signature "paintings with notes in the margins", inspired by comic book layouts. His most famous work, "Central Park" (1965), exemplifies this approach, blending bold gestures with intricate visual storytelling.

Beyond painting, Alechinsky was passionate about literature and book illustration, collaborating with writers like Emil Cioran, Michel Butor, Yves Bonnefoy, and André Frénaud. His works have been showcased in major international exhibitions and retrospectives, cementing his status as a leading contemporary artist.

In 1983, Alechinsky became a professor of painting at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. His artistic legacy spans diverse media, including large-scale public commissions such as works for the Palais Bourbon and the French Ministry of Finance. Today, his paintings and prints are held in prestigious collections worldwide.

Pierre Alechinsky continues to live and work in Bougival, France, where he remains an enduring force in contemporary art.

Explore all artworks (323)

Print, Edgar, Pierre Alechinsky

Edgar

Print . 75 x 51.1 x 0.1 cm Print . 29.5 x 20.1 x 0 inch

$1,693

Print, L'enfant sourcier, Pierre Alechinsky

L'enfant sourcier

Print . 39 x 27 x 0.1 cm Print . 15.4 x 10.6 x 0 inch

$1,451

Print, Pour Joyce Mansour, Pierre Alechinsky

Pour Joyce Mansour

Print . 23.8 x 13 cm Print . 9.4 x 5.1 inch

$665

Print, Spirale I, Pierre Alechinsky

Spirale I

Print . 66 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print . 26 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$1,693

Recommended by Artsper
Print, Infeuilletable, Pierre Alechinsky

Infeuilletable

Print . 26 x 20 cm Print . 10.2 x 7.9 inch

$605

Painting, À la merci, Pierre Alechinsky

À la merci

Painting . 96 x 139.5 x 3 cm Painting . 37.8 x 54.9 x 1.2 inch

$102,811

Print, La beauté désœuvre, Pierre Alechinsky

La beauté désœuvre

Print . 66 x 51 cm Print . 26 x 20.1 inch

$1,451

Recommended by Artsper
Print, Retour aux sources, Pierre Alechinsky

Retour aux sources

Print . 73 x 52.5 x 0.1 cm Print . 28.7 x 20.7 x 0 inch

$1,305

Print, Pavane noctambule, Pierre Alechinsky

Pavane noctambule

Print . 39 x 27 x 0.1 cm Print . 15.4 x 10.6 x 0 inch

$1,451

Fine Art Drawings, L´Oie Belge, Pierre Alechinsky

L´Oie Belge

Fine Art Drawings . 70 x 100 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 27.6 x 39.4 x 0.4 inch

$4,354

Print, En route (ouest), Pierre Alechinsky

En route (ouest)

Print . 48 x 65 cm Print . 18.9 x 25.6 inch

$3,508

Print, Bouche d'eau II, Pierre Alechinsky

Bouche d'eau II

Print . 55.5 x 75 cm Print . 21.9 x 29.5 inch

$1,149

Recommended by Artsper
Painting, 31 décembre 1988, Pierre Alechinsky

31 décembre 1988

Painting . 100 x 100 x 3.5 cm Painting . 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.4 inch

$54,430

Print, De presque-là, Pierre Alechinsky

De presque-là

Print . 39 x 27 x 0.1 cm Print . 15.4 x 10.6 x 0 inch

$1,451

Print, Ainsi ne soit-il pas, Pierre Alechinsky

Ainsi ne soit-il pas

Print . 66 x 51 cm Print . 26 x 20.1 inch

$1,451

Recommended by Artsper
Print, Composition in black, Pierre Alechinsky

Composition in black

Print . 45 x 65 x 0.2 cm Print . 17.7 x 25.6 x 0.1 inch

$1,439

Print, Jours Ouvrables V, Pierre Alechinsky

Jours Ouvrables V

Print . 80 x 58 cm Print . 31.5 x 22.8 inch

$1,621

Print, La taille douce, Pierre Alechinsky

La taille douce

Print . 62 x 44 x 0.1 cm Print . 24.4 x 17.3 x 0 inch

$3,048

Painting, Tournette, Pierre Alechinsky

Tournette

Painting . 100 x 100 x 3 cm Painting . 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

$54,430

Print, Infeuilletable, Pierre Alechinsky

Infeuilletable

Print . 26 x 19 cm Print . 10.2 x 7.5 inch

$605

Print, Société des eaux d'Arles, Pierre Alechinsky

Société des eaux d'Arles

Print . 72 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print . 28.3 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$1,331

Print, Worldly Flying Object, Pierre Alechinsky

Worldly Flying Object

Print . 65 x 47 x 0.2 cm Print . 25.6 x 18.5 x 0.1 inch

$3,508

Print, Quatre-vingt-dix 1, Pierre Alechinsky

Quatre-vingt-dix 1

Print . 38 x 29 cm Print . 15 x 11.4 inch

$2,419

Print, Visage, Pierre Alechinsky

Visage

Print . 45 x 32 x 0.2 cm Print . 17.7 x 12.6 x 0.1 inch

$1,197

Print, Arbre central, au rouge, Pierre Alechinsky

Arbre central, au rouge

Print . 95 x 60 x 0.1 cm Print . 37.4 x 23.6 x 0 inch

$3,266

Print, Jours Ouvrables I, Pierre Alechinsky

Jours Ouvrables I

Print . 80 x 58 cm Print . 31.5 x 22.8 inch

$1,621

Print, Astres et désastres IV, Pierre Alechinsky

Astres et désastres IV

Print . 52 x 67 x 0.1 cm Print . 20.5 x 26.4 x 0 inch

$4,645

Painting, Sous protection, Pierre Alechinsky

Sous protection

Painting . 25 x 35 x 1 cm Painting . 9.8 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch

$13,305

Print, A l'heure qu'il est, Pierre Alechinsky

A l'heure qu'il est

Print . 29 x 19 x 0.1 cm Print . 11.4 x 7.5 x 0 inch

$968

Print, Le poète assassiné, Pierre Alechinsky

Le poète assassiné

Print . 28 x 19 x 0.1 cm Print . 11 x 7.5 x 0 inch

$907

Print, Poèmes à peine poèmes, Pierre Alechinsky

Poèmes à peine poèmes

Print . 22.5 x 19.5 x 0.2 cm Print . 8.9 x 7.7 x 0.1 inch

$544

Print, Serpent de Binche, Pierre Alechinsky

Serpent de Binche

Print . 55.5 x 76.5 x 0.1 cm Print . 21.9 x 30.1 x 0 inch

$6,241

Print, Spirale II, Pierre Alechinsky

Spirale II

Print . 66 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print . 26 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$1,451

Print, Le poète assassiné, Pierre Alechinsky

Le poète assassiné

Print . 28 x 19 x 0.1 cm Print . 11 x 7.5 x 0 inch

$907

Print, Le poète assassiné, Pierre Alechinsky

Le poète assassiné

Print . 28 x 19 x 0.1 cm Print . 11 x 7.5 x 0 inch

$907

Print, Le poète assassiné, Pierre Alechinsky

Le poète assassiné

Print . 28 x 19 x 0.1 cm Print . 11 x 7.5 x 0 inch

$907

Print, Le poète assassiné, Pierre Alechinsky

Le poète assassiné

Print . 28 x 19 x 0.1 cm Print . 11 x 7.5 x 0 inch

$907

Print, Le poète assassiné, Pierre Alechinsky

Le poète assassiné

Print . 28 x 19 x 0.1 cm Print . 11 x 7.5 x 0 inch

$907

Print, Le poète assassiné, Pierre Alechinsky

Le poète assassiné

Print . 28 x 19 x 0.1 cm Print . 11 x 7.5 x 0 inch

$907

Print, Le poète assassiné, Pierre Alechinsky

Le poète assassiné

Print . 28 x 19 x 0.1 cm Print . 11 x 7.5 x 0 inch

$907

Print, Le poète assassiné, Pierre Alechinsky

Le poète assassiné

Print . 28 x 19 x 0.1 cm Print . 11 x 7.5 x 0 inch

$907

Print, Le poète assassiné, Pierre Alechinsky

Le poète assassiné

Print . 28 x 19 x 0.1 cm Print . 11 x 7.5 x 0 inch

$907

Print, Le poète assassiné, Pierre Alechinsky

Le poète assassiné

Print . 28 x 19 x 0.1 cm Print . 11 x 7.5 x 0 inch

$907

Print, Le poète assassiné, Pierre Alechinsky

Le poète assassiné

Print . 28 x 19 x 0.1 cm Print . 11 x 7.5 x 0 inch

$907

Print, Le poète assassiné, Pierre Alechinsky

Le poète assassiné

Print . 28 x 19 x 0.1 cm Print . 11 x 7.5 x 0 inch

$907

Print, Le poète assassiné, Pierre Alechinsky

Le poète assassiné

Print . 28 x 19 x 0.1 cm Print . 11 x 7.5 x 0 inch

$907

Print, Chemin de ronde, Pierre Alechinsky

Chemin de ronde

Print . 63 x 92 x 0.1 cm Print . 24.8 x 36.2 x 0 inch

$3,387

Print, Deux, Pierre Alechinsky

Deux

Print . 64.5 x 47 cm Print . 25.4 x 18.5 inch

$1,572

Print, Tardieu, Pierre Alechinsky

Tardieu

Print . 65 x 50 cm Print . 25.6 x 19.7 inch

$1,633

Print, Vibrions Noir & Blanc, Pierre Alechinsky

Vibrions Noir & Blanc

Print . 58 x 66.5 cm Print . 22.8 x 26.2 inch

$2,177

Print, Les nonnes grises, Pierre Alechinsky

Les nonnes grises

Print . 33 x 25 cm Print . 13 x 9.8 inch

$786

Print, Invention de la pudeur, Pierre Alechinsky

Invention de la pudeur

Print . 24 x 16.8 cm Print . 9.4 x 6.6 inch

$907

Print, Sans titre, Pierre Alechinsky

Sans titre

Print . 24 x 17 cm Print . 9.4 x 6.7 inch

$484

Print, Cachet faisant foi, Pierre Alechinsky

Cachet faisant foi

Print . 57 x 38 x 0.1 cm Print . 22.4 x 15 x 0 inch

$847

Print, L'épreuve II, Pierre Alechinsky

L'épreuve II

Print . 28 x 18.8 cm Print . 11 x 7.4 inch

$786

Print, L'épreuve I, Pierre Alechinsky

L'épreuve I

Print . 28 x 18.8 cm Print . 11 x 7.4 inch

$786

Print, Sans-titre, Pierre Alechinsky

Sans-titre

Print . 32.5 x 25 cm Print . 12.8 x 9.8 inch

$786

Print, Papier roulé, Pierre Alechinsky

Papier roulé

Print . 79 x 51.5 cm Print . 31.1 x 20.3 inch

$847

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Pierre Alechinsky's studio

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    Classic interior

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