Jacques Jarrige

Jacques JARRIGE is a sculptor and a designer, born in December 1962. He lives and works in Paris, France,
Sculptor and designer: Since his beginnings Jacques Jarrige glides between the two. He follows his inspiration in the moment, explores the universe of form freely, trusting in the physical gest and the dialogue with the material. His creations are often made to measure or short series of numbered objects.
"I do not create collection after collection but move with my inspiration, an approach which Frederic De Luca, the "En attendant les Barbares Galerie" founder, encouraged in my early days. For me it is not possible to work within a vocabulary of "collections" Jacques Jarrige said.
In this way, he has been, also, inspired and influenced by the patients of the "Atelier Bois et Design", a workshop he has run in a psychiatric hospital for 25 years: “It has freed my work.”
He is insistent about the importance of the “searching line”, the “divine accidents”, and the unpredictability of Madness.
"One answer to the “searching line” is a simplicity of materials: The materials Jacques Jarrige uses is very simple: Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF), raw plywood, naked branches, aluminium or brass. However, he doesn’t exclude the precious: lacquer, rich colors, gold and silver.
Jacques Jarrige no longer carves a shape from a block. His forms have become increasingly porous. Now Jacques Jarrige inserts the shape into the space, bringing to life the shape, but also the space where it is. Renouncing stylistic clichés, Jacques Jarrige works with bare forms that preserve their original purity, developping a free and simple vocabulary that literally embodies his human and spiritual essence.” L. Charreyron.
His work is known for dynamic fluid lines and oragnic shapes that owe as much to Jean Arp and Henry Moore as to Giovanni Penone or George Nakashima
His works have been acquired by the Mobilier National, le Musée des Beaux Arts d'Orléans, Le Fond National d'Art contemporain.FNAC

"Whether he is transforming metal or wood, Jacques Jarrige is always mindful of the prime function of a piece of furniture. The calm objects born of his alchemy inhabit the home with their silent and light presence, almost as if they were inviting you to cultivate ’the friendly sense of the everyday’..." Extract from the exhibition catalogue, 1997/1998, Hôtel de Ville de Paris. Jérôme Godeau, Paris, October 1997

By the late 80s, leaving a planned career in architecture, Jacques Jarrige chose to fabricate some furnitures, alone in his studio, looking for and finding his own style and way of working. Frederic de Luca recognized his original talent and Jacques Jarrige found himself exactly where he wanted to be in the renowned "avant-garde" gallery “En attendant les Barbares”. Frederic de Luca began to represent him alongside artists like Elisabeth Garouste, Mattia Bonetti and Eric Schmitt, all artists more sculptors than designers.

After these beginnings, Jacques Jarrige had been exhibited each year in France or Europe and his pieces of furniture had been seen by many French and foreign collectors. Since 2004, he is represented in Paris, France, by the Galerie Cat Berro.

Since 2010, the Valerie Goodman Gallery represents Jacques Jarrige in New York, USA. He is exhibited at the gallery, and thanks to Valerie Goodman, in Art fairs and museums, in France and in USA. After his first exhibition at Valerie Goodman Gallery, in 2010, Jacques Jarrige has received wide attention as well as commissions for custom work in America. Top architects and interiors designers sought his work for use in private residences and show houses.

Jacques Jarrige manages projects as inner architect or inner designer, in France and in USA. He worked with, among others, the architect Peter Marino (Offices in Paris, and Séoul. Fendi Flagship store in New York), la Galerie Avant-scène à Paris, and with the designers Paula Caravelli and Martha Angus in New-York.

Solo Exhibitions

• 2015 “Waves” installation, Pullman Miami, Miami.
• 2013 Sebastian Barquet Gallery. NY curated by Valerie Goodman Affinities
• 2012 Aqua Art Fair, Miami
• 2012 Valerie Goodman Gallery, NY “Meanders”
• 2010 Valerie Goodman Gallery, NY “Clouds”
• 2009 Galerie Thierry Marchand, Paris
• 2006 Galerie Cat Berro, Paris
• 2002 Galerie Frédéric de Luca. Paris Frederic de Luca
• 1998 Hôtel de ville de Paris Salle Saint Jean, Paris
• 1993 Galerie En attendant les Barbares, Paris
• 1991 Galerie En attendant les Barbares, Paris
• 1989 Entrepôts de Bercy, Paris

Group Exhibitions

• 2016 Galerie Avant-Scène. Paris
• 2016 Grand Mobile, Installation au Pfizer Building. Brooklyn. avec Valerie Goodman Gallery. NYC
• 2016 Galerie Diurne Paris
• 2015 Musée des Arts Décoratifs. Paris, pour Valerie Goodman Gallery.Meet my project
• 2015 Galerie Cat Berro. Paris
• 2015 Queens Museum. NYC Queens Museum
• 2015 La Gaieté lyrique . Paris, CNAP Oracles du Design
• 2014 Queens Museum. NYC
• 2014 Valerie Goodman Gallery. NYC. Holiday House/ M. P. Smyth
• 2013 Pavillon des Arts et du Design.PAD Paris. Galerie Cat-Berro
• 2013 Galerie Lotte. Séoul
• 2013 Nomades. Paris
• 2012 Galerie Vingt Neuf. Paris
• 2012 19PaulFort. Paris
• 2011 Nomades. Paris
• 2011 Art Paris. Grand Palais-Paris pour Galerie Chancery Lane. Hong-Kong. Art Paris
• 2010 Galerie "En attendant les Barbares". Paris Galerie En attendant les Barbares
• 2010 VIA. Paris
• 2009 Galerie Cat-Berro. Paris
• 2009 Galerie Avant-Scène. Paris
• 2006 Galerie Avant-Scène. Paris Galerie Avant scène
• 2005 Musée de Châteauroux. Châreauroux
• 2000 VIA. Paris VIA
• 1994 Musée des Arts Décoratifs. Hambourg.
• 1991 Musée de la Poste. Paris

• 2002 Mobilier National
• 2004 Musée d’Orléans
• 2005 FNAC

• 2014 Yun-Mo Ahn world tour « Become A Butterfly » www.becomeabutterfly.org

• "Become a Butterfly". Become a Butterfly. Retrieved 3 June 2016. 

• "Become a Butterfly"
• "The Searching Line"
• Design and Littérature / Esther HENWOOD (2009) Edition Norma Publications
• Meubles et décors des années 80 / Anny BONNY (2011) Edition du regard Publications