Diver (2023) Painting by Pierre Riollet

Pierre Riollet is a contemporary French painter whose career has been deeply influenced by his dedication to exploring light and its transformative qualities. After graduating from the Auguste Renoir School of Art in Paris, Riollet spent two decades in advertising as an artistic director. In 1987, a trip to the United States sparked a new direction in his work, inspired by the American hyperrealists and the iconic facades and cast shadows of New York City.

Riollet’s fascination with light took on a new focus as he began to depict “passages,” spaces defined by stark contrasts of light and shadow. In this period, his paintings draw the viewer into illuminated openings framed by darkness, symbolizing transitions and the pull toward clarity.

In subsequent years, Riollet expanded his exploration of light across diverse subjects: backlit café scenes, urban streetscapes, and snowy nocturnal landscapes. His attention has now turned to reflections, particularly of the sea, where he captures the interplay and decomposition of light with meticulous chromatic precision. In these recent works, Riollet’s large-format canvases often approach abstraction in their fine details, revealing a vibrancy that immerses the viewer in a powerful, luminous experience.

Riollet’s artistic journey is one of continuous evolution, with each series serving as a passage toward an ever-deeper expression of light, bringing intensity and depth to his compositions.