Artiste Ouvrier
area: Stencil Art
Key Facts
nationality
Francearea
Stencil Artresidence
Parisrecommending institution
Street Art Passage Viennatime period
December 2019 - December 2019Regarded as the most talented stencil artist of his generation (according to the press), Artiste Ouvrier (AO) is an internationally acclaimed street artist with a career of over twenty years.
Born in 1972 as Pierre-Benoit Dumont, the Paris-based French street artist known as Artiste Ouvrier (AO) has swiftly moved in to being one of the top stencil artists in the world. He is widely recognized for his refined hand-sprayed stencil works, which contain a high level of details and its vibrant colors. He is very much influenced by the art of the 19th century, in particular Pre-Raphaelite painting and the Art Nouveau. Not only AO is a master of his art, but the French Artist also executes a variety of different media art and installations such as on wood and canvas. AO murals and stencils can be seen throughout the Internet as a very popular street art search trend.
Many movies and interviews are available. AO is a prolific street artist and has practiced his art in cities all over the world. His stencils may be seen in cities such as Paris, London, Barcelona, Naples, Berlin, Hambourg, Batumi, Tbilisi, Pondicherry, Bangkok, Takamatsu, and many more …
In addition to his street work - always legal or commissioned by municipalities or private corporations - AO also produces commercial artwork for galleries, commissioned work for private businesses such as stores or restaurants. AO has to date done a number of solo gallery shows to promote his work.
He takes part in several initiatives such as « Stencil Project » which gazers great figures of Parisian street artists like BLEK LE RAT or JEF AEROSOL. And in 2008 he is invited to perform at « Can’s Festival » in London by BANKSY himself.
AO is also often asked to participate to contemporary art shows, such as «Setouchi Triennale» in Japan (2016), «Batumi Street Art Festival » (2017) or «MuseumsQuartier Q21» in Vienna (2019).
A SCHOOL IS BORN
Founder of WCA, Free University of Stencil Art, he teaches his unique technique of « double » stencil making, using only 2 stencils versus 5 or 6, to a range of young artists; some of whom are now world widely recognized such as JANA & JS or newcomer ADEY.
PRIZES
It is also interesting to note that AO published classic poetry in his young age and wrote several theater plays which were produced all over France. In 2000 he wins the prize of « DEFI JEUNE » with his puppet show « Yabon Lala ». In 2002 the « SCAM » (Société civile des auteurs multimédia) rewarded him with its famous prize
for his screenplay « Addis Abeba Blues ».
PUBLICATIONS & PRESS
His artwork figures in many publications and books such as ; « Stencil Republic », « Paris Pochoir », « Stencil History X », « Urban Nation », « New York / Barcelone », « Molitor Vibration Artistique » and many more.
MONOGRAPHIES & BOOKS
Artiste Ouvrier, "Nostalgie du futur" - Critères Edition - 2011
Artiste Ouvrier, "Fonds de Tiroir » - Lithium - 2018
Artiste Ouvrier & Aurèle, « AIR, artists in residency » - VVAD - 2019
Artiste Ouvrier, "Stencil Master » - 2020
FILMS & INTERVIEWS
Artiste Ouvrier, « Un monde bulles » - 2012
Artiste Ouvrier, « LE M.U.R » - 2012
Artiste Ouvrier, « NUNC! » - 2015
Artiste Ouvrier, « Salon des Formations Artistique » - 2016
Artiste Ouvrier & Hugo Kaagman, « Street Art Challenge » - Insight TV - 2018
Artiste Ouvrier, « Portrait 360" - Critères Edition - 2019
Artiste Ouvrier, WCA, « L’Exposition » - 2019
Stencil Art Installation by Artiste Ouvrier
More than 100 sheets of paper size A3 will be cut during the stay in Q21. These stencils are all about the work of Gustav Klimt.
I will paint on canvas from day one with another set of stencils that I am bringing with me.
After 21 days the installation will be finished and more than 30 canvases painted.
It will be a visual performance from the beginning where people will be able to see the full process and interact with me.
My point is to show something without trying to explain it.
Yet I will be available to answer all the questions in German and describe exactly my work in progress.
This installation will be a tribute to Gustav Klimt of course, who inspired my first stencil in 1993, but also to Ludwig Wittgenstein who inspired me to give up the theoretical approach and begin the practice of art.