MATHIEU1976

Artist: Mathieu_1976
Title: Fluorescent Reminiscence
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Dimensions: 50x40cm
Date: 2025
Signature: Signed lower right

/// WORK DESCRIPTION ///

A pensive, almost melancholic cherub sits enthroned at the center of a chromatic whirlwind. The child’s gesture—hand to mouth—evokes contemplation, even a silent sadness. Here the colors erupt: neon pink, acid green, blazing orange. The delicacy of the figure’s modeling contrasts sharply with the violence of these fluorescent paint splashes, hallmarks of the artist’s urban vocabulary. The angel, traditionally a symbol of purity, becomes here a witness to a world saturated with signs, noise, and life. This work perfectly embodies the paradox at the heart of Mathieu_1976’s practice: celebrating chaos without forsaking beauty.

/// BIOGRAPHY OF MATHIEU_1976 ///

Mathieu_1976 is a street artist whose journey began on the streets of Paris in the early 1990s, where he practiced tagging. Upon arriving in San Francisco for his studies, he created his first street mural in 1994 alongside ZORK 531. This moment marked a turning point in his career and deepened his passion for urban art.

Back in France, he dedicated himself to painting in abandoned factories, spending entire days using these forgotten spaces as creative playgrounds. Although he pursued scientific studies at Paris 6, the call of the spray can proved too strong, and in 2004 he chose to fully devote himself to his art.

Today, his works are exhibited in Monaco and Paris, attesting to his recognition in the art world. Mathieu_1976 spends his days creating, both in the streets and in his studio. He is fascinated by the concept of the ephemeral. He often paints over his street works multiple times—sometimes dozens—allowing glimpses of previous layers to remain visible. His paintings thus oscillate between allegories of impermanence and representations of the eternal.