Artist Database

Pierre Soulages, born in 1919 in Rodez, France, is recognised as one of the major figures of post-war European abstract art and one of the most important painters of contemporary French art. He found inspiration in ancient art forms, particularly menhirs, large, upright stones erected during prehistoric periods, as well as Celtic carvings he encountered in the local museum. The Romanesque art and architecture of the surrounding Aveyron region also had a lasting influence on his artistic sensibility.

In 1938, Soulages travelled to Paris, where he encountered exhibitions of Pablo Picasso and Paul Cézanne. He briefly studied at the École des Beaux-Arts but returned to Rodez shortly afterwards when he was called up for military service.

After the war, Soulages returned to Paris in 1946 and began developing the distinctive abstract language that would define his career. He met the artist Sonia Delaunay, who introduced him to abstract art. Rather than adopting the bright, gestural colours associated with many abstract painters of the period, he increasingly explored dark forms, broad brushstrokes, and the expressive possibilities of black. He was soon associated with a generation of pioneering post-war abstract artists and became one of the youngest and most prominent figures within the movement.

In the late 1950s, Soulages gained major international recognition, receiving the first prize at the International Exhibition in Tokyo jointly with Sam Francis, as well as the Windsor Prize in Paris. Despite being associated with Art Informel and European abstract painting, his output remained distinctive.

He remained committed to abstraction throughout his career. He died in 2022, leaving behind a highly influential body of work.