Pierre Gastaud

The French painter, lithographer and sculptor Pierre Gastaud developed an artistic practice that Gérald Schurr characterises as abstract landscape painting, at times in violent tones. Born in Nice in 1920 and died in Saint-Martin-Vésubie in 2009, he took an early interest in drawing: after working in several occupations, including as a butcher’s assistant, he practised it daily from 1938. Among his notable encounters was that with the painter Maurice Mendjizky. He also contributed to Le Patriote niçois, for which he produced satirical drawings, notably on political and working-class circles.

After Nice, Gastaud settled in Antibes. Described by Gérald Schurr as self-taught, he began exhibiting in 1950 and devoted himself entirely to painting only after 1951; he received the Prix de la Jeune Peinture de Nice in 1950, followed by the prize of the Menton Biennale in 1951. His first recorded solo exhibitions include those at the Musée Picasso in Antibes in 1954 and the Galerie Octobon in Saint-Paul-de-Vence in 1955. In Paris, he exhibited at the Galerie Jacques Massol in 1960, then presented gouaches and drawings at the Galerie Pierre Domec in November and December 1961. He took part in the Salon de Mai in Paris in 1954 and again from 1957 onwards; a selection for an exhibition in Japan is recorded in 1962. In 1968, he was included in the Venice Triennale and took part, with Xavier Longobardi, in the exhibition “Structurations” at the Musée d’art moderne de la ville de Paris.

A retrospective was devoted to him at the Château de Carros in 2003, followed by an exhibition at the North House Gallery in Manningtree in March and April 2004. Works by Gastaud are recorded in the collections of the Musée Picasso in Antibes and the Centre international d’art contemporain de Carros, as well as at the Musée national des beaux-arts d’Alger and the Musée cantonal des beaux-arts de Lausanne. Two publications attest to the attention paid to his work: a monograph by Romuald Dor de la Souchère, published by the Éditions du Musée Picasso in 1954, and a book by Roger Hauer published by the Galerie Jacques Massol in 1960.

Works recorded at auction

DognyAuction

Composition

Oil on canvas

Original catalogue wording

Composition
huile sur toile

Date to be documented

Published result : 375 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

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