Well Rimo

Well Rimo is a painter from Abidjan, Ivory Coast. He was born and raised in this country until 2016, when he had to flee because of the violence there. He then began a long journey to find a safer place and finally settled in Montpellier in 2017.

Well's passion for painting was encouraged by his older sister, who secretly enrolled him at INSAAC (Ecole des Beaux-Arts d'Abidjan) so that he could study and develop his talent. It was there that he began to work on academic techniques and to make portraits and landscapes.

During his trip, he was able to develop his artistic style and move towards pop art, art brut and the art of recycling. He also made enriching encounters, notably with his friend Welli in Morocco, who helped him financially to continue his trip to France.

Arrived in Montpellier, he found refuge in the solidarity workshop of Rondelet, where he was able to express himself freely and become Well Rimo. His works tell his story and that of his country, its culture and its people, with colors, plays of shadows and collages that bring his subjects to life. You can find various influences there, from art brut to Kokian expressionism, including the painters Aboudia and Basquiat.

One of his great prides? The portrait of American director Spike Lee, president of the jury of the Cannes Film Festival 2021, which he delivered in person.