Park West Gallery Presents the Art of
Fanch Ledan

Fanch’s paintings and graphic works can be characterized by the implied presence of participants, the order enhanced by color, and the distant view. According to art historian, Eleanor Hight, “The tremendous appeal of his art comes from the delicate balance, but underlying tension, between what is real and what is possible. His cheeriness, often exuberance, is balanced by both worldly knowledge and personal introspection.”
 
His paintings and lithographs from the 1970's and 1980's display characteristics often associated with “naïve” art. His views of Paris, a city which has embraced naïve art, display the attention to minute detail, the use of brightly-colored accents, and the disproportionate and simply rendered figures typical of a self-taught artist. His images of leisure activities—skating, riding in carriages, enjoying music in the park—are reminiscent of the subjects depicted by the French Impressionists.

In the 80’s Fanch turned to more brightly colored paintings and again a connection to Impressionism. He began to work on paintings that he refers to as “interiorscapes” or “interior visions.” In the mid 1980's, he started to include paintings by modern masters in his interiors, as he says “to pay tribute and humble homage.”

While his work is inspired by collective memories of places he has seen, many interiors spring from the imagination rather than specific places. His love for the outdoors is depicted in his art by the often airy spaces. Eleanor Hight noted, “There is never a sense of being closed in; there is room to move inside and easy access to the exterior through open windows or doors to views of a city or the sea.”

When asked about his connection to the outdoors Fanch said, “I spent all my childhood vacations on the beautiful beaches of Brittany, and I am forever attracted to beaches and oceans and all the activities that are possible around them: diving, fishing, sailing, kayaking, surfing, swimming, and tanning. Overlooking the vast and inspiring ocean from my atelier, I constantly find peace and emotional renewal.”

Check out some of the Park West Gallery You Tube videos featuring Fanch Ledan using the Video Bar below:

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