Thomas Houseago

Born in Leeds (United Kingdom) in 1972, Thomas Houseago has lived and worked in Los Angeles since 2003. He is one of the few sculptors of his generation, and for some time now one of the most well-known.

Using materials such as wood, plaster, metal, concrete or bronze, he would seem to be following in the footsteps of sculptors like Henry Moore and Georg Baselitz, who have focused on a vivid representation of the human body in space. His often massive sculptures retain traces of the manufacturing process, which makes them seem to oscillate between strength and fragility.

The exhibition of the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris traces the different phases of his development as an artist, from his 1990s works to his latest creations, which include a completely new installation produced specifically for the occasion. The exhibition, which is mainly chronological, is organised around four rooms, which cover the main geographical stages of the artist's life as well as his intrinsic relationship to his materials.

The exhibition is presented in the vast rooms that hold the museum's collections. For Thomas Houseago, they are an integral part of the scenography. The exterior architecture, the bas-reliefs of the forecourt, the presence of trees and plants and the surrounding historical monuments act as an anchor for the artist's work at the museum.

Curator : Olivia Gaultier