FRIENDS
4 chats
My friend Francis Katchatourov, also called 'King Herbert', or more commonly 'Katcha'.
He is a true companion in time, who lives in the Castle of Candes-Saint-Martin, where he is known as a potter.
We lived countless adventures together, without a doubt a special character,and this is exactly why we love him!
FRIENDS
Bernard Gitton
In the middle of work with artist physicist Bernard Gitton in his studio in Les Rosiers.
Here smoking his legendary cigarillos, he is the genius behind the technical aspect of my artworks.
Solar pannels or sound generating electromagnetic fields, he's always got the solution.
He is particuarly known for his water clocks, which can be seen in the Cité des Sciences, in Paris
FRIENDS
Jean Barillé
Jean Barillé is without a doubt one of my closest friends.
He used to live in the Castle of the Belloin Chapel when we lived in Touraine.
He was an exceptionnal man, and I love him like my own brother.
FRIENDS
Bill Wolf
My good friend Bill Wolf, from California, here visiting Paris.
He was Michael Jackson's driver back in the days.
We lived so many hilarious moments together, I wouldn't know where to start!
FRIENDS
Big D.
When I lived in California, Big D. was my neighbour.
He was 16 then, and suffered a severe case of myopathy.
He therefore lived with his mother Joyce and his step-father.
I became very close to Big D. I visited him everyday, end did with him all the things I knew he could never do alone.
One day, I sat him on my knees as we were on the freeway driving out of Los Angeles, and let him drive my thunderbird.
It was very hard for the both of us when I moved back to Europe. Helen and I therefore organized a huge party for him.
I even invited the Hells Angels for Big D. who loved motorbikes. He left this Earth a few years later.
He was a wonderful guy.
FRIENDS
Beatrice de Andia
Here, I am explaining my blue Period sculptures to Beatrice de Andia, the President of the Arts council for the City of Paris.
These sculptures were inspired by native american indian petroglyphs, and were then exhibited in the famous flower gardens of her castle: La Chatonnière in Touraine.
A descendent of Talleyrand, Béatrice left France when she was 26, and travelled around the world five times through fourteen years in a small French car.
She is a real adventurer, and a good friend of mine.
FRIENDS
José Van Dam
My friend José Van Dam visiting my studio in the south of France.
The mother of my son met his wife Christiane, when seeking comfort at a common friend's home after being taken hostage during a bank robbery in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.
Christiane found the story fascinating and invited us to the first dinner of a long friendship, which lasts to this day.
No need to mention José's incredible carreer as an opera singer. He just sang his last opera recently, but you might be lucky enough to hear him sing here or there.
Passionate people never quit, isn't it?
FRIENDS
Mark Tate
My friend Mark Tate visiting me in my studio in the north of France.
His wife and him found me a few years ago in the south of France, and we've kept in close touch since then.
He keeps telling me to focuse on painting as according to him 'No one has a house big enough to exhibit installations!'
He now owns my C19 saucer, source of my Cosmic Art, and the painting I consider to be my masterpiece The Hug.
It is a daily joy for me to know my works are in such good hands!
FRIENDS
Oliver Madhaus
Life is what it is, and so are people... Through my life I never the less spent wonderful and crazy moments with my old friend Oliver Madhaus.
Years back, we visited the Arizona desert in his Porsche and got stuck in the middle of a river bed; we then had to ask the indians to help us pull it out of there...
Later in life, he acquirred my 'Cosmic Paysan and Horse' Bronze sculpture. Here, we are in Sardinia visiting his friends 'The Flinstones'.
On that same trip, Oliver taught my young son how to play Poker! This photo stands for all the good things we lived together.
FRIENDS
Olivier Ceyrac
Here, architect Olivier Ceyrac, a great friend whom I miss very, very much.
He worked on the Concert Dome project in Marseille, and right ater that, left France to live on his sailing boat in the Pacific Ocean.
I considered following him back then, but a boat isn't the most convenient place to sculpt metal. It's a great man we lost when he died.
FRIENDS
Marie Noëlle de Vibraye
Marie-Noëlle de Vibraye, my first wife, french, whom I met in the United States as a student in Art Center College of Design.
As a little girl, she used to live in the Château de Cheverny, which inspired Hergé to create Tintin's Château de Moulinsart.
She was my first muse when I lived in Los Angeles, and to this day, we keep in very close touch.
FRIENDS
Heidi Reinwald
Here, my good friend Heidi Reinwald visiting one of my shows.
There are some people in this world, who remind us that softness, kindness and tact are precious qualities.
Heidi is one of these people. Perhaps you'll meet her if you stop by the VIP lounge at the Airport of Vienna, Austria.
She is a sincere friend, and a person of quality.
FRIENDS
The General Consul of Switzerland
Here, his excellency the General Consul of Switzerland at my exhibition at the Palace of the Arts in Marseille, where I presented my Trans Nature Art exhibition for the first time.
I would like to thank him once again for this wonderful event, which was a great success.
FRIENDS
Caroline Alauzen
My friend Caroline Alauzen di Genova, the Manager of Special Architectural Projects for the city of Marseille.
Here, she is discovering my sculpure Stelle Air exhibited in a show hosted by the General Consul of Switzerland at the Palais des Arts in Marseille.
She has a true passion for art, inspired by her family who invited Joseph Beuys to live and create in their castle during his long stay in Italy...
It's our common passion for Joseph Beuys which marked the beginning of a long friendship.
FRIENDS
Claude Micheaux
My friend Claude Micheaux. He is a scientist working for NASA. When this photo was taken, he was bringing us to the first landing of the Pioneer Space Shuttle on the Edwards air base.
This man spent more time "on the moon" than on Earth. He is the true excentric genius stereotype.
30 years ago, he was already explaining to us that there was frozen water on Mars.
Time showed him right...
FRIENDS
Jim Cortland
My good friend Jim Cortland with whom we developped the concept of Cosmic Art.
He is also a very talented artist, and is gifted with a rare intelligence.
This photo was taken shortly after we met, in Touraine.
We always stayed very close, and to this day, he is one of my best friends.
FRIENDS
My friends Jamal Lansari and Olivia Roldes.
He is a painter and the director of cultural affairs for the city of Joué lès Tours, she is also a wonderful painter end my assistant when I work in Touraine.
We lived wonderful adventures together, and have many more ahead of us.
I thank them both for their support.
FRIENDS
The Mayor Lebreton, of the City of Joué-lès-Tours, in Touraine, who was so kind to invite me to take part in a few artistic events organized by his city.
Here, he is discovering my sculpture Stellephant
FRIENDS
Philippe et Bernard Sepia
Let me introduce you to my favourite picture framers, Philippe and Bernard Sepia.
FRIENDS
René Durbach
My friend René Durbach whom I miss very much, here showing his work to Pablo Picasso.
As the Director and Curator of the Maeght Foundation in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Jean-Louis Pratt once told me, 'he was an artists' artist.'
All the great artists of his time found inspiration in his work and developped highly intersting intellectual exchanges with him.
He also designed the vitrals for the Basilique of Charleville Mézière.
I consider a true honnor to have been the friend of a man with such an extraordinary artistic sensitivity.
FRIENDS
César
On that day, I had gone to visit Cesar as he was exhibiting in Paris.
Here, he is greeting some admirers who were waiting for him as we walked out.
The photo is not particularly good, but it is special. Indeed, it is the last photo I took of Cesar.
He went back to the stars that same night.
FRIENDS
Thomas Kellner
My good friend Thomas Kellner. Since I met him when he was still a student, he photographed his way up to be one of the biggest names in photography in Germany.
Through a deconstructivist perspective, his experimental photographic processes allowed him to impose himself as an innovator.
He was of great help to me by photographing my TNA art show, and many of the photos on this site are his work.
You'll find a link to his site in my links page.
FRIENDS
Thierry Valsuani
Here, Thierry Valzuani, my bronze melter in action. We had such great laughs together through the years.
His family has been melting bronze for three generations, and realized creations for all the great names in the world of art, from Cézanne to Max Ernst.
He passed away recently and that is a great loss for contemporary artists through the world.
FRIENDS
Elena Moreno
My spanish friend Elena Moreno whom I met in Touraine when she visited us for my son's birth.
She's a very dear friend who spends a great deal of time in India working for charities.
She worked a lot with Mother Theresa, and continues her adventures regularly.
She is also a wonderful god mother to my son Pablo.
