Mekong, 2012

Jacques Loustal  

Jacques Loustal is a French artist born in 1956.

He studied architecture at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and in 1977 he started his career working as an illustrator for the magazine Cyclone, published by the students of the Lycée de Sèvres. At the age of 21 he published an album together with the artist Tito. During his studies, he worked as an illustrator for the magazine Rock & Folk, where he met Philippe Paringaux.

Jacques Loustal had collaborations with numerous writers, such as Jérôme Charyn et Jean-Luc Coatalem. He illustrated novels and at the same time many artists' writing was inspired by his art.

He also worked for the press, producing artwork for the front pages of magazines such as The New Yorker, Beaux-Arts Magazine, GEO etc. He also produced posters for films such as Eric Rochant's "Un monde sans pitié" in 1990, and took photographs that served as inspiration for his drawings.

His style is easily recognisable by its lines and graphic elements, throughout the technique he employs (ink, brushes, charcoal...) and by the fresh colors he uses. The influences of the Fauve artists and cinema are also visible in his work.

Jacques Loustal held exhibitions in France and in Europe and published more than 80 books.