Olivier Lépront

Born in Bordeaux in 1998, Olivier Lépront joined the Beaux-Arts de Paris and explored figurative painting in François Boiron’s studio, before joining Nina Childress’ for his final two years of training. When he graduated in 2023, he offers his contemporary interpretation of the still life.

Over the centuries, still life has been seen as a genre lacking in interest compared to historical or religious painting, but in the 17th century it began to make its mark in Flanders, Holland, and Spain, before achieving recognition in the 18th century. These periods were also marked by discoveries linked to the theories of optics and refraction. Fascinated by the way in which the masters illustrated these advances in their paintings, Pieter Claesz and Jean Siméon Chardin are source of inspiration for Olivier Lépront, especially their realism brought to fever pitch and their trompe l’oeil effects accentuated by lyrical lighting.

The interplay of light and shadow and the brightness of materials are at the heart of the painter’s reflections: metallic down jackets, aluminum survival blankets, holographic plastic bags and pearly shells are elevated to iconic status in his impressive oil paintings.

These new everyday objects, depreciated for their superficiality, are also those of our consumer society. Through his gripping realistic work, Olivier Lépront manages to detect beauty in utility and futility, transforming his contemporary vanitas into odes to contemplation.