Benedicte Gele

Benedicte Gele

La Rochelle, France

About Benedicte Gele

Bénédicte Gelé is drawn equally to the animal and to the act of drawing itself. The living form, with its curves and movement, reminds her of the nude studies of her school days. The body in its simplest form, as crude as the pencil stroke, the artist’s basic technique, grey or black, pure and powerful. “I do not paint for the myth or legend of the animal, or for its strength, even though I respect all of that. Above all, I paint the physical, the sensual, a wave of primal emotion that the body provokes. I could have chosen a man or a woman, but horses have a cruder, more animal quality to their posture than human beings who tend to intellectualize too much. Horses have a powerful, captivating presence, with their natural solidity.

Education:

Baccalaureate in Applied Arts
Certificate in Visual Communication

Events:

2017
October 27th & 28th > Horse Exclusive Experience – Lisse, The Netherlands
September 23th to mid November > Exhibition at the "Atelier du Vivier" Gallery – France, Moret sur Loing (70)
April 2 to September 17 > Trophée Carrare sur le thème de la Tapisserie de Bayeux – Haras de St Lô (50)

GALLERIES
Equis Art Gallery — Red Hook NY (USA)
Bee & Laurel Gallery – Edgerton WI (USA)
Porcellino Gallery – Florence (Italie)

MAIN AWARDS
• Bouvet Ladubay Prize at “22e Salon International de Saumur” / 2014
• 3 prizes at International Equine Art Competition / 2011
• First prize at “15e Salon International de Saumur” / 2007

Exhibitions:

MAIN EXHIBITIONS
• Salon du Petit Format | 2016 - Saintes (17)
• Theatre Le Dôme | 2016 - Saumur (49)
• Trophée Carrare - Haras National de St Lô (Fr)
• Solo Exhibition at La Maline /2016 - Ile de ré (Fr)
• L'Art O'Carré /2016 - Orléans (Fr)
• 22e Salon International de Saumur /2014 - Saumur (Fr)
• Horse Utopia /2014 - Florence (Italie)
• 
Aranima à La Hip Galerie /2012 - Paris
• Equine Art 2011 /2011 - Auburn (US)
• International Equine Art Competition /2011 - 3 prices - Art Horse (US)
• “Les animaux prennent la pose” /2010 - Barbizon (Fr)
• Exhibition “Equine art” at Corner Gallery /2009 - Surrey (En)
• 16e Salon International de Saumur /2008 - Saumur (Fr)
• Solo exhibition at St-Lô’s Stud farm /2008 - Saint-Lô (Fr)
• “31e Salon National des Artistes Animaliers” /2007 - Bry-sur-Marne (Fr)
• “15e Salon International de Saumur” /2007 - First price - Saumur (Fr)
• Exhibition at “Théatre Equestre Zingaro” /2006 - Aubervilliers (Fr)
• “Salon de Dessin et de la Peinture à l'Eau” /2006 - Grand Palais - Paris (Fr)