Nicolas Vionnet

About

Nicolas Vionnet’s (b. 1976) primary medium is acrylic on canvas. His chiefly large-scale works play with space and expanse. Although almost always realistic, his paintings have more in common with abstract images than real landscapes. He paints disruptive grey strips across his clouds and allows coloured surfaces to drip down the canvas in accordance with the laws of gravity. Vionnet is fascinated by such irritations: interventions that approach and create a non-hierarchical dialogue with the environment. This discussion opens up a field of tension, which allows the viewer an intensive glimpse of both these phenomena.

Vionnet uses the same strategy for his installations and objects. Irritation and integration - and a subtle and precise intervention of the object. Vionnet: “The phrase ‘nonhierarchical dialogue with the environment‘ describes my conviction that the artwork itself may never be dominant. Indeed, there should be no hierarchy. Ideally, there is a balance between work and environment. This balance allows the viewer to perceive both components simultaneously.”

Education

2007-2009

Master of Fine Arts, Public Art and New Artistic Strategies, Bauhaus University, Weimar (GER)

1999-2004

Cooperation Master of Arts in Art and Design Education: teaching qualification for Upper Secondary Education, Academy of Art and Design, Basel (SUI)

Solo Exhibitions (Selected)

2021

To be honest, I never wanted to become an electrician anyway, BBA Gallery, Berlin, Germany

2019

Gasträume – Public Art in Zurich, Galerie widmertheodoridis, Tessinerplatz Zurich, Switzerland

2017

Alles muss rein!, Griesbadgalerie, Ulm, Germany

2016

Silence III, Galerie widmertheodoridis, Zurich/Eschlikon, Switzerland

Group Exhibitions (Selected)

2023

Wau!, Museum Eduard Spörri, Wettingen, Switzerland
Kulturwochen Ebenrain, Schlosspark Ebenrain, Sissach, Switzerland
About Face, Bedford Gallery, Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek, USA
More is never enough, Field Projects Gallery, New York, USA
ARTMUC artfair, BBA Gallery, Munich, Germany

2022

Art Basel Group Show (online), Alfa Gallery, Miami, USA
Fondation JetztKunst, No.13, Gartenbad Eglisee, Basel, Switzerland
Emerging Artists (online), Dodomu Gallery, New York, USA
Untitled Miami (online), Alfa Gallery, Miami, USA

2021

Interior, Kunsthalle Palazzo, Liestal, Switzerland
Garage, Community Show Project, Missoula, USA
Back to Athens 8, International Arts Festival, Galerie widmertheodoridis, Athens, Greece
Orbit - 13 Art Stations, Eschlikon, Switzerland
Twingi Land Art, Landschaftspark Binntal, Switzerland

2020

EXH 03 (online), Floorr Magazine, London, UK
BBA 2020, BBA Gallery, Berlin, Germany
Alles im grünen Bereich?, Kulturort Galerie Weiertal, Winterthur, Switzerland

2019

Room 105, Galerie widmertheodoridis, Zurich/Eschlikon, Switzerland
Half A Pound of Art, Galerie Størpunkt, Munich, Germany
YICCA – Final Exhibition, HDLU Pavillon, Zagreb, Croatia
Fashion, Galerie Størpunkt, Munich, Germany

2018

Onyx, Alfa Gallery, Miami, USA
Juried Exhibition, Athens Institute for Contemporary Art, Athens, Greece
Boys Will Be Boys, Whitdel Arts, Detroit, USA
Emerging Artists Vol. 3, BBA Gallery, Berlin, Germany

2017

Turbulence Area, 5th Odessa Biennale of Contemporary Art, Ukraine
Contemporary Landscape, CICA Museum, Gimpo-si, South Korea
Half-Truth, Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

2016

Les jours des éphèmeres, Alpines Museum der Schweiz, Bern, Switzerland
Taboo, Galleria Poggiali & Forconi, Florence, Italy

Awards (Selected)

2023

Merit Award, Kite Prize for Contemporary Art, USA

2019

Finalist, YICCA International Contest of Contemporary Art, HDLU (Hrvatsko društvo likovnih umjetnika), Prsten Gallery, Zagreb, Croatia
Winning Artist, RADAR – Convocatoria para Artistas, Associazione Radar, San Donà di Piave, Venezia, Italy

2018

Selected by the curatorial commission, Premio O.R.A. Prize, Associazione culturale, San Donà di Piave, Venezia, Italy

2016

Shortlisted, 4th International Emerging Artist Award, Dubai, UAE
Finalist, Taboo Art Prize, Celeste Network, Galleria Poggiali & Forconi, Florence, Italy