Julien Monnerie was born in 1987 in Rennes. He lives in Paris.
Julien Monnerie’s works are at once laconic and eloquent. At first glance, they present themselves as meticulously conceived sculptures, at once captivating and impenetrable. Often created through largely forgotten techniques, at times in collaboration with artisans themselves, they display a mastery that lifts their forms and surfaces into a realm of abstraction.
For those attuned to the resonances that each work quietly sets into motion, the wry hermeticism gives way to a network of references, some carefully chosen, others surfacing involuntarily. Culinary traditions, esoteric motifs, art-historical allusions, and even wordplay point to a fascinating constellation of meaning. In their restraint, Monnerie’s works express a quiet intensity, inviting viewers to engage with the tensions between use value and exchange value, between matter and memory.
Julien Monnerie is represented by Bel Ami (Los Angeles).