born in 1971
Raised in Paris 19th district, during France’s graffiti glory age, known as “Stalingrad”, Lek developed his graphical style in the end of the 80’s, mixing graffiti with influences like Bauhaus, abstraction , futurism and years of studying architecture. With Hof and Osean, he created the LCA crew who brought graffiti’s classic code towards more minimalists compositions. His letters seem glitched, deconstructed. Quickly emancipating himself from the meaning of these letters, Lek chose to focus rather on their strenth lines, their graphic shapes, directions and counterpoints, making them interact with their immediate environment.
Usually working in abandoned industrial areas, the rigid compositions of Lek adapt themselves to the constraints of their natural habitat. His letter fragments act as dynamics lacerating space, revealing or canceling it, opening new perspectives in these chaotic areas. Using precarious meidums, he also created installations, reflecting his pictural dynamics in volume through the space.
Lek is the co-author of Nothing but letters (Wasted Talent édition, 2009) with Yko. Their pictorial experiments have influenced many other artists (such as the use of a pierced spraycans as painting tools).
He has exhibited at Le Grand Palais (2006 and 2009) , participated in Lokiss’ alternative gallery, La Place Forte, Les Bains-Douches (2013), both ‘Imaginary Museum’ editions, put together by the 1984 crew in 2012 and 2013, and several exhibitions at Agnes B or the “Tour Paris 13”.
Recently, Lek was granted a residency at the Natural Park of Rentilly (2013). With Sowat, he is at the origin of the “Mausolée” project, a monumental underground exhibition revealed in 2012 through a book, a video and an exhibition that opened to both artists, the doors of the Palais de Tokyo.
“My graffiti culture is something very strong that I want to mix with architecture. Itt’s a training that allowed me to paint as I wanted : break walls, carve them, slash them with colors and patterns, combining different elements to transform any given space into the images I have in my head.
I try to recreate my own kind of architecture, different from what you usually see. What I like is to be is a space designer, creating movements, blends …
(… ) I have learned to accept the ephemeral nature of my work because it allows me to be free from what I was at a given time. If all my paintings had survived these last twenty years, it might not have pushed myself so hard to develop a new style.
Ephemeral is necessary to create the rage that grows into something else. It motivates you to be different.“
(Interview with Sophie Pujas , 2013)
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Exposition Collective – LEK x SOWAT x LIARD – “CONTREBANDE” – 28 Février > 29 Mars 2014
Exposition Personnelle “Fractal” – Mai 2017
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SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2018 | « BANDES ORGANISEES » . Galerie Joel Knafo Art . Paris
2017 | « FRACTAL ». David Bloch Gallery. Marrakech (Maroc)
2016 | « XIX» . Galerie 42B . Paris (France)
2010 | « LETTRES CONTRE ARCHITECTURE ». Galerie La Place Forte. Paris ( France)
COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS & PERFORMANCES
2018 | « DIALOGUES PRIMAIRES ». Galerie Couteron. Paris (France)
2018 | « A L’ECHELLE DE LA VILLE ». Ministère de la Culture x Planète Emergence. Paris (France)
2018 | Group Show . David Bloch Gallery. Marrakech (Maroc)
2017 | « SOUVENIR DE PLAGE». Galerie 42B. Paris (France)
2017 | « CIRCONSTANCES ATTENUANTES ». w/ SOWAT. 400m2 du Pavillon carré de Baudouin. Paris (France)
2016 | « TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK ». Lek & Sowat x Marchand et Meffre. Polka Gallery. (France)
2015 | « AMEROUGE » . Galerie 42B . Paris (France)
2015 | Group Show . David Bloch Gallery. Marrakech (Maroc)
2015 | « FAR EAST FAR WEST ». Galerie Agnès b. Hong Kong ( Chine)
2014 | « SUR NOS MURS ». Galerie Association d’Idées. Marseille (France)
2014 | « DMV », BC Gallery. Berlin (Allemagne)
2014 | « CONTREBANDE ». Lek x Sowat x Arnaud Liard. David Bloch Gallery. Marrakech (Maroc)
2014 | Street ART. HipOp Session. Nantes (France)
2013 | Fresque Saint Blaise. Lek & Sowat et Philippe Baudelocque. Mairie du 20ème (France)
2013 | « LASCO PROJECT ». Palais de Tokyo. Paris (France)
2013 | « ETAT DES LIEUX ». JonOne + Lek + Sowat, Galerie Agnès b, Paris (France)
2013 | « LA TOUR PARIS 13 », Paris (France)
2013 | « HISTOIRE D’UN MUR ». Le Voyage à Nantes (France)
2013 | Artaq 2013. Angers (France)
2013 | « THIS IS NOT MUSIC ». Friche de la belle de Mai. Marseille (France)
2013 | Marseille 2013, Escale 3. Galerie Agnes B, Marseille (France)
2013 | « LES BAINS DOUCHES ». Galerie Magda Danysz. Paris (France)
2012 | Programme Link. Jacques Villéglé, Lek et Sowat. Centre Pompidou. Paris (France)
2012 | « LES ENTRAILLES DU PALAIS SECRET ». Lek, Sowat et Dem189. Palais de Tokyo. Paris (France)
2012 | « INTERVENTIONS SUR LE BATIMENT ». John Giorno, Lek et Sowat. Palais de Tokyo. Paris (France)
2011 | WIP la Villette, Cité de la Musique. Paris (France)
2010 | Exquisite Corpse – Massy. Paris (France)
INSTALLATIONS AND MURALS
2016 | « MACCHIA APERTA ». Lek & Sowat installation. Résidence @ Villa Medicis. Rome (Italie)
2016 | « DEHORS ». Lek & Sowat installation. Atri (Italie)
2016 | Conception et réalisation de mural. Lek & Sowat. Delhi (Inde)
2016 | Projections d’oeuvres de Lek & Sowat. Ministère de la culture et de la communication. Rome (Italie)
2015 | « VENI VIDI VINCI ». Conception et réalisation de mural. Lek & Sowat. Rome (Italie)
2015 | Lek & Sowat installation. Résidence @ Villa Medicis. Rome (Italie)
2015 | « FAR EAST FAR WEST ». Graffti Hub Exhibition. Lek & Sowat mural. Galerie Agnès b. Hong Kong
2015 | « EVRY DAY I’M HUSTLIN ». Lek & Sowat mural. Festival Street Art Evry (France)
2014 | « LE MUR ET LE DESSIN ». Lek & Sowat et Sébastien Preschoux mural. Paris (France)
2010 | Rooftop painting. Conception et réalisation. London (UK)
ART FAIRS
2018 | MONIKER Art Fair. Londres (UK)
2015 | « INEXTERIEUR ». FIAC. Paris (France)
RESIDENCIES
La ville de la Rochelle. Culture et patrimoine de la ville. 2018
VILLA MEDICIS, ACADEMIE DE FRANCE A ROME. 2015-2017
BIBLIOGRAPHY
LA ROCHELLE DISPARUE by Lek et Sowat. Leporello Book 2018
LEK. Association le M.U.R.XIII 2018
TRAVAUX D’INTERET GENERAL. Edition terrain vague 2018
MAUSOLEE. Résidence artistique sauvage. Editions Alternative 2012s. Paris – France
