Saturday, September 9, 2017

UTRILLO, URBAN SOLITUDE,


Galerie Alexis Pentcheff will celebrate Maurice Utrillo’s (1883-1955) prominent position within the School of Paris in his first retrospective in Marseille, from September 22 to November 4, 2017.
Since 2009, Galerie Alexis Pentcheff has been highly involved in Marseille’s cultural scene, showcasing the finest of Impressionist and Modern Art. Today, the gallery presents its forthcoming exhibition, "UTRILLO, URBAN SOLITUDE," which is viewable online. The gallery will display an extremely rare collection of thirty-nine original works that will highlight Utrillo’s greatest achievements and his influence on the 20th century art scene.

All of the works come from private collections and will be available for purchase. This new show will look at Utrillo’s legacy through the prism of a contemporary and novel interpretation, bringing into focus his idiosyncratic vision of Montmartre’s landscapes.

Son of the sulfurous Suzanne Valadon, Maurice Utrillo was born on the day after Christmas in 1883. Throughout his life, Utrillo will remain a highly troubled man for whom painting will become an enlightening necessity. While painting will alleviate his darkest thoughts, he will reveal an extraordinary and genuine talent.

Like his mother, who was a painter and a model, Utrillo is an autodidact. He will find inspiration in the greatest figures’ artistry, scrutinizing their representations of his mother. The artist will therefore develop a highly personal style from his attentive observations and knowledge, suggesting a sincere and authentic approach of painting, while setting aside any ostentation.

Through this retrospective, Galerie Alexis Pentcheff pays tribute to a major artist gifted with an incredible sensitivity and provides new perspectives on his atypical work. While Maurice Utrillo has often been mentioned to embody the cursed artist myth, he is most importantly the perfect incarnation of the School of Paris (École de Paris).



Maurice Utrillo, Rue Saint-Vincent sous la neige, Montmartre, Circa 1955, Oil on canvas, 38,1 x 42,6 cm




Maurice UTRILLO (1883 - 1955) Eglise Saint-Denis de la Chapelle, Paris, 1933