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Robert Combas Art

French, b. 1957

Robert Combas is a French painter and sculptor, born May 25, 1957 in Lyon. He is a successful living French artist along with Pierre Soulages. He has been pursuing a unique approach since the 1980s. His eccentric and powerful representations of the world make him one of the emblematic figures of French contemporary art. Combas’s work is now the subject of numerous retrospectives and institutional exhibitions. He brought at the dawn of the ‘80s a new figurative painting. 

Present on the artistic scene since 1979, he is the creator of a movement that the artist Ben called the Free Figuration, a movement comprising Rémi Blanchard, François Boisrond, Robert Combas and Hervé Di Rosa. The artists of the free figuration take, through their works, the freedom to make all forms of art without borders of cultural genre and geographical origin, without hierarchy of values between high and low culture. Combas’s work, inspired by graffiti and comics, is at once casual and humorous, funny and sensual. Having just graduated from the Beaux-Arts of Montpellier, his work is recognized by the world of art. He then very quickly became the bandleader of the Figuration Libre movement invented by Ben. For the artist, “Figuration is to do as much as possible what you want most personally most freely”. And this freedom manifests itself in the variety of themes addressed and is felt in every detail of his works. He paints reality, but also reworks academic drawings. Painting made of liberties he speaks about the society, the violence, the sexuality, the suffering of the people, their small happiness, their littleness, their greatness. Combas is not a prisoner of a form of painting and his work is in perpetual evolution which is the subject of a first major retrospective at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Lyon. 

“The search for the feeling, the feeling is the rhythm, it's the crazy drummer in the jungle and the voodoo dances, it's the Rolling Stones copying the old pieces of the blacks, the bluesmen and unintentionally, creating new music, it's a little like that for painting, having the rhythm of Chinese, Arabic and Mediterranean scriptures and paintings, my painting is rock,” says Robert Combas. 

In 1982, the first solo exhibition of the artist took place in Paris and the same year he exhibited at the gallery in Amsterdam and in 1983 his first solo exhibition at the gallery Leo Castelli in New York took place. Following numerous exhibitions, including his first major solo exhibition at the ARCA in Marseille in 1984, in 1985 he had a retrospective at the museum of the Sainte-Croix abbey of Sables-d'Olonne and later at the Gemeente Museum in Helmond and in 1986 at the Museum of Art and Industry of Saint-Étienne. In the last quarter of the 20th century, Combas also took the risk of breaking with the theories and practices of the art of his contemporaries. The best way in other words to restore the truth about today. The artists like Robert Combas, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring and Ouattara Watts popularize a free figuration. The works of Combas, Di Rosa, Basquiat and Keith Haring seem animated by a powerful and lively wave. Combas is now living and working in Paris.

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Artist: Robert Combas
Robert Combas - Coupe du monde de football - Saint Denis - Dessin original
By Robert Combas
Located in Tel Aviv - Jaffa, IL
Original drawing on paper Hand signed Unique piece
Category

1990s French School Robert Combas Art

Materials

Felt Pen

Robert Combas Unique Piece Hand Signed 1995
By Robert Combas
Located in Tel Aviv - Jaffa, IL
Mixed media on paper Hand signed Unique piece
Category

1990s French School Robert Combas Art

Materials

Acrylic, Permanent Marker

Robert Combas Unique Piece Original Drawing
By Robert Combas
Located in Tel Aviv - Jaffa, IL
Original drawing Ink on paper Unique piece Hand signed
Category

Early 2000s French School Robert Combas Art

Materials

Ink

Original ink on paper Robert Combas Unique piece Hand signed
By Robert Combas
Located in Tel Aviv - Jaffa, IL
Original ink on paper Unique piece Hand signed twice
Category

1990s French School Robert Combas Art

Materials

Ink

Original Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris vintage pop-art poster
By Robert Combas
Located in Spokane, WA
Original poster: a l'Arc Musee d'art Moderne; artist Robert Combas; lithograph, 1984, excellent condition. Ready to frame. Year: 1984. Size 24.87" x 32.12" Artist: Robert Combas This poster is also known as the Cat or "Le Chat". Vintage original poster...
Category

1980s Pop Art Robert Combas Art

Materials

Lithograph

Robert Combas Original Serigraphy Limited Edition Artist Proof hand signed
By Robert Combas
Located in Paris, FR
"Adultery", 1990 Large original serigraphy printed on fabric, very rare and limited Edition of 30 Artist Proof signed hand by the artist in black ink and accompanied by its certificate of authenticity. Number: EA - 30 EA (30 Artist Proof ) Dimensions of the serigraphy : 140 x 140 cm Very good condition. Imposing and important highly illustrated monograph, with a lively layout, of one of the best-selling French artists on the international contemporary art market. A colorful and highly circumscribed painting, inspired by comics, graphics and popular art, and anchored in rock’n’roll imagery since 1977. The art market confirms that Robert Combas is the most successful living French artist with Pierre Soulages. During the last two years, the value of his works has multiplied by 5 , proof with the last Artcurial auction sale from December 4th 2019. With its carefully surrounded black shapes, its faces out of a comic strip and its bright colors, this work which treats adultery with derision corresponds well to the criteria of Free Figuration, a movement, born in 1979, around this Lyonnais artist and and his cronies. Casually appropriating advertising images, comics, science fiction as well as great works in the history of classical art, these artists break with the seriousness of the time. It is in Epinal style illustration and imagery that one must look for the missing link to understand the art of Combas. Robert COMBAS has been pursuing a unique approach since the 1980s. His eccentric and powerful representations of the world make this genius one of the emblematic figures of French contemporary art. The artist's work is now the subject of numerous retrospectives and institutional exhibitions. The enthusiasm of collectors becomes more important with each new public sale and its rating climbs which confirms the sustainable nature of the art of Robert COMBAS. He brought at the dawn of the 80s a new figurative painting. Present on the artistic scene since 1979 he is the creator of a movement that the artist Ben called the Free Figuration, movement comprising: Rémi Blanchard...
Category

Late 20th Century Contemporary Robert Combas Art

Materials

Fabric, Canvas

Sculptur limited Edition "The Cannon Dancer" Robert Combas French Sculptor
By Robert Combas
Located in Paris, FR
The art market confirms that Robert Combas is the most successful living French artist with Pierre Soulages. During the last two years, the value of his works has multiplied by 5 , proof with the last Artcurial auction sale from December 4th 2019. This sculpture "The Cannon Dancer" is one of the most interesting of his major works from the 90s where he touched on themes dear to him like: battles, war, religion, love, sex, women, mythology, music, genre scenes... - "Le danseur au canon", The Cannon Dancer Painted polychrome resin sculpture. This is a limited édition signed Combas, dated 95 and numbered 4/8 on the base. - Is it a carnival ? a character, a buffoon representing power by a cannon exhibited as a phallic object that symbolizes power. "The moment when the official hierarchies collapse, where the powerful become ridiculous and the fools the only wise respected. The moment of inversions, negations, derision and extravagance. Abel and Cain, Salome and Saint John the Baptist : whatever the time and the weapons, it is almost always the same story", said Combas. Robert Combas love to Deforms when, allowing itself disproportions, exaggerations and deletions, it gives birth to creatures with noses, lips or feet disproportionately inflated or stretched, even monstrous and comic. In this case, Combas flirts with satire, farce, the grotesque. Make love better than a war ! Robert COMBAS has been pursuing a unique approach since the 1980s. His eccentric and powerful representations of the world make this genius one of the emblematic figures of French contemporary art. The artist's work is now the subject of numerous retrospectives and institutional exhibitions. The enthusiasm of collectors becomes more important with each new public sale and its rating climbs which confirms the sustainable nature of the art of Robert COMBAS. He brought at the dawn of the 80s a new figurative painting. Present on the artistic scene since 1979 he is the creator of a movement that the artist Ben called the Free Figuration, movement comprising: Rémi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Expressionist Robert Combas Art

Materials

Resin, Acrylic

Le bouffeur de mèque jaune ! Robert Combas - Original Mixed media - Unique piece
By Robert Combas
Located in Tel Aviv - Jaffa, IL
Original mixed media on paper Unique piece Dated lower left Hand signed lower right
Category

1990s French School Robert Combas Art

Materials

Glitter, Acrylic

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Previously Available Items
Le bouffeur de mèque jaune ! Robert Combas - Original Mixed media - Unique piece
By Robert Combas
Located in Tel Aviv - Jaffa, IL
Original mixed media on paper Unique piece Dated lower left Hand signed lower right
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1990s French School Robert Combas Art

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Glitter, Acrylic

L'Homme Jaune
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Located in Barbizon, FR
100 copies existantes + 30 "hors commerce" Litographie originale signée à la main, hors commerce 26/30
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L'Homme Jaune
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H 41.34 in W 33.86 in D 0.04 in
Robert Combas - Feu №2 - Hand-Signed Lithography, 1990
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Robert Combas (1957) - Feu №2 - Hand-Signed Lithography, 1990 Additional Information: Material: Color lithograph on Arches paper Edited in 1990 Signed in pencil by artist Paper size...
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Lithograph

Exhibition poster
By Robert Combas
Located in Paris, FR
Lithograph, 1985 Printer : Arte - Paris 82.00 cm. x 63.00 cm. 32.28 in. x 24.8 in. (paper) 74.00 cm. x 56.00 cm. 29.13 in. x 22.05 in. (image) Lithographic poster made for the exh...
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French Artist Print Limited édition number 65/89 with Editing certificate, 1996
By Robert Combas
Located in Paris, FR
Print Bain dans l'étand de Thau ou Sète " Bath in the pond of Thau or Sète" 1996, Limited édition number 65/89 with Editing certificate, Arches high quality Vellum paper. The prints...
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Robert Combas art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Robert Combas art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Robert Combas in lithograph, acrylic paint, canvas and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the Pop Art style. Not every interior allows for large Robert Combas art, so small editions measuring 6 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Jean Messagier, Tie Feng Jiang, and Achille-Émile Othon Friesz. Robert Combas art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $636 and tops out at $39,754, while the average work can sell for $3,802.

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