ClaudeGilli
Biography
Claude Gilli (1938–2015) was a notable French artist known for his influential role in French Pop Art and as part of the École de Nice movement. Born in Nice, Gilli studied at the École des Arts Décoratifs in his hometown, where he connected with artists such as Albert Chubac and Martial Raysse. Early in his artistic career, Gilli explored assemblage and constructed objects, creating distinctive painted wooden sculptures called "Ex-votos" in 1961. Marking a pivotal moment in his practice, he symbolically destroyed much of his previous work on New Year’s Eve in 1962 to signal a new creative direction. In subsequent years, he developed his style further by creating landscapes carved from wood and experimenting with vividly painted, dripping shapes known as "Coulées." By the late 1960s, Gilli expanded his materials to include transparent plexiglass and even unconventional methods, such as employing snails to leave organic patterns on paper. Moving to Paris in 1970, Gilli's artistic practice continued to flourish. His international exhibitions and significant retrospectives, including one at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux in 1981, solidified his reputation within contemporary art circles. Later in his career, he created monumental steel sculptures, notably commissioned for public spaces in Nice, celebrating his enduring connection to Mediterranean culture and landscape. In recognition of his artistic contributions, Claude Gilli was honored in 2010 as a Commandeur de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres. He passed away in Nice in 2015, leaving an enduring legacy within the realm of modern art.
