Juliette Lemontey

Figurative intimate Painting on ancient fabric, 2023 – 'Normal People'

2023

Juliette Lemontey (b. 1975, Metz, France) is a French artist currently residing in Arles. Her work is defined by a profound sensitivity and a delicate touch that captivates the viewer. Juliette’s art centers on an intimate exploration of the body, capturing both its weight and its fragility, while conveying the beauty that emerges from moments of rest and relaxation. Inspired by encounters, readings, and fleeting moments of daily life, her creations unfold like a personal journal, recording transient states of contemplation. In her portraits, Juliette deftly sketches the enigma of the human face, choosing to depict what escapes the gaze rather than conforming to society’s superficial expectations. Her paintings, alternating between detailed faces and mysterious masks, invite internal reflection, mapping a landscape of otherness and unknown places. Every contour and every strand of black hair tells a unique story—a dialogue between the artist and her subject. Juliette’s artistic practice revolves around the transformation and revival of materials. She works primarily with repurposed textiles and vintage linens, breathing new life into old fabrics. Through this process, her canvases embody themes of presence and absence, evoking the duality of the human experience and the passage of time. By transforming found materials into art, she creates a sense of Renaissance, where the old becomes new again, symbolizing the rebirth of both matter and spirit. Her approach rejects the notion of freezing a character in time. Instead, she seeks to capture the transient states of being that reflect the internal exile that dwells within us all. If a subtle melancholy pervades her work, it is to better express the fleeting nature of human intimacy and evoke the poetic quality of rest. Observing Juliette Lemontey’s paintings transports the viewer into a world where simplicity meets depth, revealing the richness and complexity of the human soul. Juliette Lemontey’s work has been featured in exhibitions in France and internationally, gaining recognition for its unique exploration of presence, absence, and the cyclical nature of transformation. Her art resonates with collectors and art enthusiasts who appreciate the subtle interplay of materials and themes, which capture the delicate balance between permanence and ephemerality. ‍