Variation 1, 1994

Bernard Métranve  

Bernard Métranve is a French artist born in the Ardennes in 1949. After studying literature and art, he turned to creation very early on. He began his career as a painter and worked concurrently in sculpture using various materials: wood, plaster, clay, bronze, and even concrete.

His work, primarily abstract and conceptual, is most often inspired by human and natural forms. Always seeking rhythm and the lightness of forms, he renews the somewhat frozen image of traditional bronze by choosing transparent patinas and unusual colors.

From 1988 to 2010, his sculptures brought together complementary realities. He described them as analogical (water is associated with woman, the bandages of time with life and birth, walking with the meaning of life...).

After 2010, he developed the CLARES and CODEX series, which propose a conception of sculpture based on movement, balance, and sensuality.

Currently, his art turns towards the expression of the human face (Interrogation, L'Etrangère) and the exploration of the theme of duality (Dualité I, II, III and Les Mystères de la Dualité. 2023 - 2026).

Main Solo Exhibitions:

1981 Sainte Agnès Crypt (Saint Eustache Church), Paris
1983 Ran-Hôtel, Bouaké (Ivory Coast)
1989 Burak Gallery, Bogota (Colombia)
1993 Société Générale des Champs Élysées (Paris) - Ex-prévôté, Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher
1994 Trois Maries Gallery, Orléans
1995 Pénitents Blancs Chapel, Saint-Paul-de-Vence
2000 Cultural Space of Dinard
2001 Maison du Sénéchal, Gourdon (Lot)
2004 TRA/VERS/ART Gallery, Wavre (Belgium)
2006 Gavart Gallery, Paris (2006, 2007, 2008, 2010)
2007 Villa Mériadec, Douarnenez
2008 Yèvre-le-Châtel (Loiret)
2010 Briarres-sur-Essonne Town Hall - Exhibition of 24 works
2012 Germigny-des-Prés - Retrospective at Salle Germignonne
2012 Le Grand Loin Gallery, Fay-aux-Loges
2013 Paray-le-Monial Church
2013 "Errances et Convergences" Exhibition, Chédigny and Montlouis-sur-Loire (Carroi des Arts)
2015 Barbizon (41 Grande Rue) (2015, 2016-“Woman”, 2018-“Metamorphoses”)
2018 Yèvre-le-Châtel – Permanent exhibition of the "Processionnaires" in one of the towers
2019 Gallery 41 – Grande Rue, Barbizon – “Origins”
2020 "Analog Sculptures" - Major retrospective of 40 works at Espace Culturel Marc Jacquet, Barbizon

Group Exhibitions:

1982 "Entre Terre et Encre" (Between Earth and Ink), J. Aka Cultural Center, Bouaké (Ivory Coast)
1994-1995 Castle of Tourrettes-sur-Loup (Ghirardi/Métranve)
1999 Palais Beaulieu, Lausanne (Switzerland)
2002 L’Exception Gallery, Poitiers
2003 Musée de l’Imaginaire (Château de Ferrières)
2004 Alizée Gallery, Orléans
2006 Taylor Gallery at the Taylor Foundation, Paris
2008 Castle of Villemenard, Bourges
2013-2026 Alfart—LBK Gallery, Barbizon – Permanent exhibition
2014 Les Ormes Gallery, Courtenay
2018 "HORIZON 4" Exhibition, Espace Marc Jacquet, Barbizon - One sculptor and 3 painters (Métranve, Alain Bonnefoit, Sen Shombit, Nadine Le Prince)
2024 LURQUIN Gallery, Dinant (Belgium)
2025 LURQUIN Gallery (40th anniversary of the Gallery)

Art Salons:

1991 Salon des Artistes Français (1991, 1992)
1989 Salon des Artistes Orléanais (Martin Pourret Prize)
1997 Salon d’Ozoir-La-Ferrière (1st Prize)
1997 Salon Itinéraires, Levallois-Perret (1st Prize)
1999 Réalités Nouvelles, Paris
2000 Salon de Mai, Paris
2001 Salon Art 2000, Espace Auteuil, Paris
2003 Salon de Saint-Brisson-sur-Loire (Prize from the Loiret General Council)
2004 Salon de Montargis (Guest of Honor)
2005 Salon Art du Nu, Paris
2007 Contemporary Art Salon, Dammarie-les-Lys (1st Prize)
2009 Salon Trans’arts
2010 Salon Artpak, Fayence (Var)
2010 Cercle des Artistes de Paris (Parc Floral de Vincennes) 1st Prize
2010 Figuration Critique, Paris (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014)
2010 Salon Comparaisons (Grand Palais, Paris)
2010 Salon Business’Art (Espace Cardin, Paris) - Collégiale St Pierre, Chartres
2010 Animal Art Biennial, Rambouillet
2011 SIAC (Marseille) - Saint-Tropez (Salle Jean Despas) 2011, 2012, 2013
2011 Saint-Germain Church, Sully-sur-Loire (Guest of Honor)
2011 104th Salon des AO, Orléans (2011, 2013)
2012 Salon "Sculptures en Liberté", Roquebrune - "Créateurs d’aujourd’hui", Valbonne
2012 Salon Art O’Clock, Paris-La Défense
2013 "Pas à Pas", Louveigné (Belgium)
2013 "Sculpt’en Sologne", Chaumont-sur-Tharonne
2014 Salon de Bressuire - Winter Salon of Sannois (Guest of Honor)
2014 Salon de Chahaignes (Guest of Honor)
2015 European Sculpture Fair (Sculpturum), Strasbourg
2016 Salon de Saint-Privé-Saint-Mesmin, Loiret (Guest of Honor)
2016 Base’Art, Fréjus (Corporate Partnership)
2019 Art3F Fairs (2019-2023): Nantes, Toulouse, Paris, Mulhouse, Haute-Savoie, Monaco, Reims, Lyon, Luxembourg, Brussels, Lausanne, Kortrijk
2020 Salon d’Automne, Paris (Codex 1)
2022 Salon de Lunéville
2024 Salon d’Automne, Paris (January 18-21)
2024 Salon de Versailles – Guest of Honor (10 sculptures exhibited)
2025 160th Salon de Versailles – Guest of Honor
2025 Salon des Réalités Altérées (Serre de l’Orangerie, Paris)
2026 Salon Art et Matière de Maisse – Guest of Honor – Cella Prize