André Monet

Freddie Mercury

2018

In his intricate collages made of old newspapers, magazines and pages from books, contemporary artist André Monet lays bare the eccentric and often complex personalities of some of the world’s top celebrities — from his homage to the late David Bowie in the 2013 London group exhibition “The Many Faces of David Bowie” to his evocative portraits of pop icons Jay-Z, Rihanna and Drake. 

Monet was born in Montreal in 1965. In the 1980s, he studied graphic design and explored mediums such as mosaics, collage and acrylics at Laval University in Quebec City. After graduating, Monet spent several years working in fashion and advertising before deciding to become a full-time artist. 

Inspired by cinema, photography, music and literature, Monet began creating colorful Pop art-style paintings of celebrities. His richly textured assemblages combine mass media scraps — strips of paper from newspapers, books and maps — with painting and varnishing. This meticulous technique yields Photorealist collage depictions that reveal both the strengths and weaknesses of his subject. 

Among Monet’s most notable works are images of Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Leonard Cohen, Anthony Bourdain, Winston Churchill and Mick Jagger, to name a few. In 2011, the artist was commissioned to create a portrait of Prince William and Catherine Middleton to commemorate their wedding. His portraits have been exhibited around the world, including in Paris, London, New York, Miami, Toronto, Montreal, Seoul and Singapore. Monet’s portraits have also been featured in publications such as Rolling Stone, Interview and more.

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