Robert Combas
Born in 1957 in Lyon, Robert Combas spent his childhood and adolescence in Sète. He has lived and worked in the Paris region since 1980.
In the early '80s, Robert Combas has invented a new figurative painting. On the artistic scene since since 1979, he is the founder, together with artists Remi Blanchard, François Boisrond and Hervé Di Rosa, of an artistic movement that Ben called "Free Figuration".
His painting is about freedom: it speaks of society, of violence, of sexuality, of the suffering of the people, of their small joys, their meanness, their greatness... It is inspired by rock music, popular images, children books, school books and basically by everything that makes pop culture accessible to everyone.
In 2010 some of Robert Combas's works have been acquired by the Lacan collection. The painter also produced a remarkable series of prints. Faithful to popular culture and to his desire to provoke, his images are inspired by popular imagery.
He manipulates images of daily life, mixing them with historical and mythological references. With a style inspired by comics and graffiti, he produces an energetic and fun painting that can sometimes have some violent or sensual touches.