Bernard Mens

I was born in Orléans in 1955, and have always had a passion for drawing. As a child, I used to sell my illustrations at school to earn a bit of pocket money. At 16, I hitchhiked across France and Europe, sketchbook in hand, capturing whatever inspired me along the way.

At 18, living in an isolated chalet in Haute-Savoie, I discovered oil painting and quickly sold my first canvases. This success encouraged me to make it my profession. After a spell in Brittany, where I perfected my technique, I moved to Morocco. There, I had the opportunity to paint a portrait of King Hassan II, which opened the door to numerous commissions for influential personalities.

After 35 years in Marrakech, I began to explore the representation of African women, often perceived as exotic in art. This artistic research led me to Senegal, where I settled to deepen my work on black skin and create a collection entirely dedicated to African women.

Today, I'm preparing a new series of around twenty paintings exploring symbolism, inspired by Carl Jung's theory of archetypes and the notion of Persona. Through this collection, I question the way in which masks, real or symbolic, influence identity and self-perception, delving into the collective unconscious.

Morocco

2000 – Leïla Sebti Gallery, Marrakesh
2001 – Dar Cherifa Gallery, Marrakesh
2003 – Khalid Dar El Bacha Gallery, Marrakesh
2005 – Art Lawrence-Arnot Gallery, Marrakesh
2006 – Moustapha Blaoui Gallery, Marrakesh
2007 – Design And Co Gallery, Marrakesh

Senegal

2014 – Agora Gallery, Dakar
2018 – Mémoire Africaine Gallery, Saly
2023 – Mémoire Africaine Gallery, Saly