OVERVIEW
Bernard Cathelin was born May 20th, 1919 in Paris. He was a student at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts Decoratifs and at Maurice Brianchon's workshop. Since 1950, numerous personal exhibitions and awards marked the career of Cathelin, in France, USA, Japon, Switzerland, Canada and England…: this was the beginning of the artist's international success, recognition and major critical acclaim.
Cathelin once remarked, "To obtain a beautiful red, I apply another red over it; I scratch it to reveal the first red, wait until it dries and apply another coat of red…I need to work with rich, thick matter." He found his inspiration in the winter light of Paris, his birthplace - the Drome in southern France -, and in his many journeys world-wide.
In the summer of 1997 the Musee de Valence organized a major retrospective of his work. This year, from June 18th through October 2nd, Musee d'Art Contemporain (1 avenue Saint Martin 26200 Montelimar France) will host a "Cathelin Retrospective".