VENET Bernar

A pioneer of conceptual art and creator of monumental steel arcs, Bernar Venet, born in 1941, is one of the most renowned French sculptors. Discover his works above as they arrive.

Bernar Venet, from Mathematical Formula to Steel Line

Corten steel arcs weighing several tons, appearing as if drawn in a single gesture in the sky, lines coiling with no beginning or end, angles balanced in the middle of a square: Bernar Venet's sculptures are unmistakable. Before becoming one of the most exhibited French sculptors worldwide, he was also a pioneer of conceptual art, showcasing equations and scientific diagrams as artworks.

• 1941: born in Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, on April 20.
• 1961: Tas de charbon, sculpture with undefined form.
• 1966: moved to New York.
• 1967-1970: Conceptual works based on mathematics, physics, and chemistry.
• 1971-1976: he pauses his artistic production to focus on theoretical reflection.
• 1979: first Indeterminate Lines and first Arcs.
• 2010: Neuf Lignes obliques erected on the Promenade des Anglais, Nice.
• 2011: exhibition of his monumental sculptures at the Château de Versailles.
• 2014: opening of the Fondation Venet in Le Muy, Var.

From Nice Beginnings to New York

Born in Haute-Provence, Bernar Venet began painting at a young age and moved to Nice in the late 1950s, a city buzzing with artistic energy. In 1961, he created Tas de charbon, a sculpture without a fixed form, a simple heap of material placed on the ground. Tar, cardboard, and industrial materials interested him more than traditional painting. In 1966, he moved to New York, where he mingled with minimalist and conceptual artists.

Conceptual Art and Science

In New York, Venet exhibits diagrams, equations, graphs, and scientific texts reproduced as they are. He does not aim for beauty: he wants to show that knowledge itself can become the subject of art. His screenprints dedicated to chemical formulas, such as Figure 6, Methane, date from this foundational period. In 1971, at the peak of this exploration, he decides to stop producing for several years to focus on teaching and reflection.

Arcs, Angles, and Indeterminate Lines

Upon returning to creation in the late 1970s, Venet revisited the line, this time in space. His Arcs, Angles, and Indeterminate Lines, initially in wood then in steel, became his signature. Monumental, these sculptures are installed in numerous cities worldwide. In Nice, the Neuf Lignes obliques have dominated the Baie des Anges since 2010. In 2011, he was invited to exhibit at the Château de Versailles, where his arcs engage with Le Nôtre's perspectives. In 2014, he opened a foundation in Le Muy, Var, showcasing his work and collection.

Choosing a Work by Bernar Venet

• The screenprints from the conceptual period are rare documents of a key moment in 1960s art.
• Their graphics, with great precision, harmonize well with contemporary interiors and minimal art enthusiasts.
• Each artwork offered by the gallery is precisely described and sold with an invoice-certificate.

Bernar Venet at Galerie 125

The hand-signed screenprint Figure 6, Méthane, from 1966, shown above, has already been sold. Bernar Venet's works remain rare: check this page regularly, new pieces are added as acquired, and each artwork is carefully shipped, tracked, and insured. Other sculptors to discover: César, , Pol Bury and Alexander Calder.

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