Jean-Hubert Lassalle
Jean-Hubert Lassalle (born 1939[1]) is a talented French painter, educator, and the founder of a workshop, renowned for creating the Atelier d'Art of Saint-Gaudens and guiding many artists along their journeys.[2] He has a unique way of merging traditional painting techniques with innovative texture and media.[3]
Early life and beginnings
During the late 1950s, Lassalle discovered his passion for the arts while working as a mechanic and performing with a harmonica clown trio Polo et Bambino.[4] In 1960, he met Monique, his wife, whom he described as "a fairy" and the muse that ignited his journey as a painter. They spent two decades together, filled with love and inspiration, until her untimely passing prompted him to fully commit to his artistic pursuits.
Throughout his career, Lassalle has foound immense personal and professional fulfillment. He has created over a thousand signed pieces, many of which are cherished in private collections world wide. In addition, he has shared his knowledge with more than five hundred students at his Atelier d'Art de Saint-Gaudens.[4]
Artistic development
Lassalle views painting as both a calling and means of expressing one's personal truth. He often posed the question to his students: "Qu'est-ce qu'un peintre?" ("What is a painter?"). To him, a painter is not just someone who applies colour; rather, it's an individual who harnesses form, medium, and inspiration to craft a unique vision.
Though he humbly declined the title of Maître (Master), Lassalle embraces his identity as a passionate artist. He makes a clear distinction between those who merely replicate reality and artists who reinterpret it. For him, the "true artist" reshapes reality to convey emotion and imagination. His artistic influences range from classical to modern masters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Pablo Picasso, and Salvador Dalí, whom he considered "geniuses who explored various paths through their work."[4]
Style and research
Lassalle's artistry beautifully blends traditional and experimental methods, weaving together painting, drawing, photography, and digital media. He draws inspiration from Pablo Picasso's famous words: "Je ne cherche pas, je trouve!" ("I don't seek, I find!") which serves as a guiding principle for him. In his own words, Lassalle aims to "escape the copy of nature" by diving into the realms of texture, gesture, and abstract form.
His creative process involves layering various materials and using mixed media techniques such as empreinte (imprint), monotype, charcoal, pastel, ink, acrylic, oil, watercolor, and airbrush. He also creates installations and occasional sculptures. Recently, Lassalle has embraced the world of digital art, viewing the computer as an "extraordinary instrument" that enables him to create new pieces of work from his drawings and photographs, broadening his artistic horizons while staying true to his personal vision.[4]
Career and influence
Lassalle has a remarkable "60 years of career" under his belt and has received "multiple honours" in the art world.[1] He teaches painting and established the Atelier d'Art de Saint-Gaudens, which has blossomed into a lively community hub for artists. Throughout the years, he has played a pivotal role in nurturing the creative journeys of many students who have gone on to showcase their work widely.[5]
His art has graced numerous French art salons, including Aura Toulouse, Méridionaux Toulouse, Occitans Toulouse, Centre d'Art Contemporain Paris, Espace Delpha Paris, Saint-Jean de Luz, Gruissan, Rueil-Malmaison, and Cognac.
Over his career, Lassalle has won multiple awards, among them:
- 1st Prix Lions Club Midi-Pyrénées
- Gold medals at the 32nd and 33rd Béziers Art Salons
- 1st Prix Festival Couleur Gruissan
- Prix des Arts Audois Carcassonne
- Prix de la Ville de Saint-Flour (2007)
- Prix du Conseil Général d'Orthez (2006)
- Grand Prix de la Vallée de l'Isle (2008)
- Prix Peinture en Liberté, Urdos (2010) and others listed in regional competitions between 2003–2010.[8]
In 1999, Lassalle carried out a Performance project titled Une œuvre par jour pour marquer le passage du 3e millénaire ("One artwork per day to mark the passage into the third millennium").
His works are held in private collections in France, Germany, England, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, China, Spain, the United States, Israel, Italy, Morocco, the Netherlands, Russia, Sweden, and Switzerland.
The Musée du Pays de Luchon has thirty of his pieces representing different periods of his artistic evolution. According to AKOUN 2019, he was officially listed with an art-market quotation that year.[6]
Ce que j'ai fait peut s'oublier mais pas s'effacer, ce que je fais on peut aimer ou jeter, ce que je vais faire on ne l'oubliera jamais. Les hommes passent, pas leurs rêves.
What I have done may be forgotten but not erased; what I do may be loved or discarded; what I will do will never be forgotten. Men pass, but not their dreams.
Exhibitions and teaching
In December 2009, thirteen painters from Jean-Hubert Lassalle's course showed a varied collection of around thirty paintings at the casino of Barbazan. The artworks included gentle landscapes (including motifs like the Pic du Midi d'Ossau and Montagne Sainte-Victoire) to vibrant portraits of icons such as Claudia Cardinale, Elizabeth Taylor, and Brigitte Bardot.[7] During the exhibition, in 2023, at the Théâtre Marmignon in Saint-Gaudens, Lassalle contributed one of his own pieces amongst the works by his students and other regional artists like Sandie Pedarros and Florette Piquemal. Jean-Luc Souyri noted that Lassalle "discovered painting by making it, then became interested in photography... mixing all expressions, blending substances and textures, merging photography and painting to create a very personal style." He also mentioned that many artists benefited greatly from Lassalle's knowledge and encouragement.[8]
Lassalle's legacy lies in his artwork and his influential role as a mentor. Through the Atelier d'Art de Saint-Gaudens, he has shaped the careers of many local artists and established a lasting tradition of artistic education in the region.[5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 ArtMajeur, Jean-Hubert Lassalle |. "Jean-Hubert Lassalle (France), Artiste numérique contemporain | ArtMajeur". www.artmajeur.com (in français). Retrieved 2025-09-10.
- ↑ Lassalle, Jean-Hubert. "Découvrez le travail contemporain de jean-hubert". artactif. Retrieved 10/09/25. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Accueil". www.lassallejeanhubert.com. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Lassalle, Jean-Hubert. Ma vie d'artiste. Search this book on
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Exposition - Atelier d'Art de Saint-Gaudens | Haute-Garonne". OpenAgenda (in français). 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
- ↑ Lassalle, Jean-Hubert. Un parcours professionnel unique (poster/brochure). Retrieved from personal archive, 2025.
- ↑ "Barbazan. Des disciples de Jean-Hubert Lassalle exposent au casino". ladepeche.fr (in français). Retrieved 2025-09-10.
- ↑ "Saint-Gaudens. L'Atelier d'Art expose à Marmignon". ladepeche.fr (in français). Retrieved 2025-09-10.
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