Michel François
Born in 1956 in Sint-Truiden (Belgium), MICHEL FRANÇOIS lives and works between Brussels (Belgium) and Paris (France). François’s interest lies in exploring a variety of media including installation, video, sculpture and photography, often combined and linked to create a larger idea. Through these various techniques and materials, François comments on the relationships and contradictions that we face in our public and private lives. Some are more formal such as convex versus concave forms, the connection between the external and the internal, light versus dark. Others focus on political “truths” versus deception and/or manipulation. Central to the artist’s work is the reconsideration of simple known images, objects or banal iconography. Kamel Mennour and Michel François have been working together since 2011.
His work has been shown in numerous solo exhibitions at Ikon Gallery in Birmingham, CRAC in Sète, CCC in Tours, IAC in Villeurbanne, SMAK in Gand, Mac’ of Grand Hornu, De Pont Museum in Tilburg, CCA in Kitakyushu; Vox in Montreal; Gulbenkian Museum in Lisboa; Kunstverein in Münster; Kunsthalle in Bern; Haus der Kunst in Munich; Witte de With in Rotterdam; Miró Foundation in Barcelona; Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels; as well as group exhibitions at the Centre Pompidou-Metz, the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, at documenta IX, at the Venice Biennale in 1999, the Mamco in Geneva, the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, at Casino and Mudam in Luxembourg as well as in different biennales as in Istanbul, Seoul and Johannesburg.
Works
![Instantané - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/instantane/4a5220d1b4-1712849424/1-2024-terrazo-diptyque-mf-233-photo-archives-mennour-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Mennour, Paris - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-mennour-paris/986b927593-1712847413/7-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Bozar, Brussels - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-bozar-brussels/b3a87234e0-1689604413/8684-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts de Lausanne - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-musee-cantonal-des-beaux-arts-de-lausanne/fa7b250915-1689604776/vue-exposition-resister-23-em-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Halle Verrière, Meisenthal - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-halle-verriere-meisenthal-2/ab77af6b3d-1632317588/1733-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, YARAT Contemporary Art Centre, Baku - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-yarat-contemporary-art-centre-baku/09a709d8f9-1657901899/dsc09818-400x.jpg)
![Instant Gratification - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/instant-gratification/eb2fdc051a-1562079817/mf71-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Halle Verrière, Meisenthal - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-halle-verriere-meisenthal/24bc6e47f6-1632317539/1817-400x.jpg)
![Martyr - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/martyr/72a54512b5-1562087070/mf215-400x.jpg)
![Sans titre 7 - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/sans-titre-7/d1d855046e-1562086736/mf182-400x.jpg)
![Instant Gratification (chips tree on wood) - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/instant-gratification-chips-tree-on-wood/1d604952b0-1562086892/mf199-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, kamel mennour, Paris - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-kamel-mennour-paris-7/c3b7b29c0b-1563286655/16-2014-ciel-ouvert-photo-fabrice-seixas-400x.jpg)
![Souffles dans le verre (noir) - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/souffles-dans-le-verre-noir/7a2c35749f-1562079927/mf74-01-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, De Pont Museum, Tilburg - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-de-pont-museum-tilburg/053b344f92-1568879266/2004-de-pont-400x.jpg)
![Froissé - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/froisse/205773b5fe-1562079982/mf90-400x.jpg)
![Contigu - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/contigu/dc23660242-1562087125/mf22-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Crac Sète - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-crac-sete-1/fca0eb7a19-1563287045/dsc-6960-bd-400x.jpg)
![Installation view, Golden Cage, Art Unlimited, Art Basel - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/installation-view-golden-cage-art-unlimited-art-basel/8f9906e0b2-1568879319/2008-basel-1-400x.jpg)
![Peanuts - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/peanuts/c2889ddc02-1562086482/mf148-400x.jpg)
![Souffle dans le verre - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/souffle-dans-le-verre/1461d54651-1562086990/mf209-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, La Verrière, Fondation d'entreprise Hermès, Brussels - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-la-verriere-fondation-d-entreprise-hermes-brussels/e859a7e914-1563287338/10-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, kamel mennour, Paris - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-kamel-mennour-paris-10/7e8099859f-1563286912/27-2016-solo-show-michel-francois-photo-julie-joubert-400x.jpg)
![Sans titre 3 - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/sans-titre-3/61e427ce4f-1562086576/mf159-400x.jpg)
![Contamination - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/contamination/e07941af5a-1562080039/mf117-400x.jpg)
![Permanent installation, Lieu-dit, Lormont - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/permanent-installation-lieu-dit-lormont/3e8dd09082-1568879295/2006-lormont-1-400x.jpg)
![Sans Titre (Tâches de plâtre assemblées) - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/sans-titre-taches-de-platre-assemblees/9b798613d6-1562079565/mf4-400x.jpg)
![Sans titre 6 - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/sans-titre-6/337122da25-1562086702/mf179-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, S.M.A.K., Ghent - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-s-m-a-k-ghent1/d3d75566b2-1568879643/2009-smak-3-400x.jpg)
![Instant Gratification 5 - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/instant-gratification-5/c40c914082-1562086956/mf205-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, kamel mennour, Paris - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-kamel-mennour-paris-6/f5bdd0e18b-1563286612/14-2014-ciel-ouvert-photo-fabrice-seixas-400x.jpg)
![Le monde et les bras - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/le-monde-et-les-bras/9a91585b3f-1562086442/mf147-400x.jpg)
![Infini - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/infini/3660deb2a5-1562086774/mf185-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, S.M.A.K., Ghent - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-s-m-a-k-ghent/a88e430b50-1568879614/2009-smak-2-400x.jpg)
![Sans titre 4 - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/sans-titre-4/389e84e667-1562086608/mf166-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, CCCOD, Tours - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-cccod-tours/f58c33a909-1568879690/2011-ccc-michel-francois-001-400x.jpg)
![Soufflés dans le verre - Transparent - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/souffles-dans-le-verre-transparent/9c247420a5-1562086410/mf143-400x.jpg)
![Sculpture à l’aveugle (wall) - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/sculpture-a-l-aveugle-wall/ecaa7f6129-1562086806/mf187-400x.jpg)
![Enroulement 2 - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/enroulement-2/286df270ce-1562086835/mf188-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, kamel mennour, Paris - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-kamel-mennour-paris-1/fc653632fb-1563285229/chd0982-400x.jpg)
![Scribble - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/scribble/1ead773972-1562079713/mf60-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, WIELS, Brussels - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-wiels-brussels/84dbaa47c8-1563287710/michel-francois-the-absent-museum-003-400x.jpg)
![Contamination line - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/contamination-line/cb14c22435-1562087046/mf212-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Casa Wabi, Puerto Escondido - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-casa-wabi-puerto-escondido/b9adc01b10-1563287888/04-400x.jpg)
![Souffles dans le verre (argenté) - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/souffles-dans-le-verre-argente/2c09a3ff39-1562079872/mf73-400x.jpg)
![Ink Revenge (Octopus) - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/ink-revenge-octopus/f57c6cb337-1562086381/mf130-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, CCA Kitakyushu - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-cca-kitakyushu-japan/f1aa91fa1a-1568879234/2003-cca-2-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, kamel mennour, Paris - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-kamel-mennour-paris-8/dedef55b05-1563286727/3-2016-solo-show-michel-francois-photo-julie-joubert-400x.jpg)
![Sans titre - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/sans-titre/a8335c4881-1562086513/mf150-400x.jpg)
![Instant Gratification 3 - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/instant-gratification-3/7857aedd80-1562086338/mf125-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, kamel mennour, Paris - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-kamel-mennour-paris-5/ed9b832524-1563286551/chd1109-400x.jpg)
![Enroulement - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/enroulement/27ccfa3117-1562079612/mf5-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Biennale d’Art Contemporain de Rennes - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-biennale-d-art-contemporain-de-rennes/fc611f07a2-1568879726/2016-rennes-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, CRAC Sète - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-crac-sete/4fe4fa4d38-1563286991/cf029760-bd-400x.jpg)
![Scribble 2 - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/scribble-2/62271d677c-1562079749/mf67-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, kamel mennour, Paris - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-kamel-mennour-paris-9/8462d5045e-1563286852/17-2016-solo-show-michel-francois-photo-julie-joubert-400x.jpg)
![Sans titre 5 - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/sans-titre-5/975b70ac82-1562086663/mf167-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, kamel mennour, Paris - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-kamel-mennour-paris/91612cd2fa-1563285187/chd0967-400x.jpg)
![Instant Gratification 2 - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/instant-gratification-2/6cefa83495-1562086298/mf122-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, kamel mennour, Paris - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-kamel-mennour-paris-2/4b4f925732-1563286444/chd1024-400x.jpg)
![Sans titre 2 - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/sans-titre-2/9cd09b1a78-1562086545/mf151-400x.jpg)
![Bois martyrs - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/bois-martyrs/12dcbd3334-1562087018/mf211-400x.jpg)
![Instant Gratification 4 - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/instant-gratification-4/051be0ad98-1562086925/mf201-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, kamel mennour, Paris - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/exhibition-view-kamel-mennour-paris-4/32851dd1cb-1563286514/chd1067-400x.jpg)
![Enroulement coloré - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/michel-francois/enroulement-colore/496f35a96e-1562086864/mf195-400x.jpg)
Exhibitions & News
![Michel François - Palais de Tokyo - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/news/michel-francois-palais-de-tokyo/8fdfccd0f8-1706808966/1999-lapin-sur-la-main-400x266-crop.jpg)
![Feuilles, Flaques, Anneaux et Sédiments - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/exhibitions/feuilles-flaques-anneaux-et-sediments/a9f5918fdd-1712568566/5-400x266-crop.jpg)
![Bertrand Lavier - Monnaie de Paris - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/news/bertrand-lavier-monnaie-de-paris/5ee2ee5689-1683132386/arm230417-013-400x266-crop.jpg)
![Michel François - Bozar Bruxelles - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/news/michel-francois-bozar-bruxelles/0df376483f-1678786926/2-mud-volcano-400x266-crop.jpg)
![Michel François - Cc Strombeek - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/news/michel-francois-cc-strombeek/c5d6a43312-1657191339/cc-strombeek-2021-michel-francois-lr-001-400x266-crop.jpg)
![Michel François - YARAT Contemporary Art Space - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/news/michel-francois-yarat-contemporary-art-space/d8e8055933-1647254523/web-michel-web-400x266-crop.png)
![Michel François - Conflans-Sainte-Honorine - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/news/michel-francois-conflans-sainte-honorine/7d07140b53-1623251140/invitationmfrancois-glisse-e-s-400x266-crop.jpg)
![AVJ & Michel François - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/news/avj-michel-francois/f246457dbf-1653922330/avj-mf-pre-order-01-400x266-crop.jpg)
![Michel François - Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/news/michel-francois-musee-cantonal-des-beaux-arts/65882ea16e-1646840704/vue-exposition-resister-14-em-400x266-crop.jpg)
![Jours blancs - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/exhibitions/jours-blancs/35f3a3579a-1634725558/4-400x266-crop.jpg)
![Michel François - Espace d’art François Auguste Ducros - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/news/michel-francois-espace-d-art-francois-auguste-ducros/8a96d4483b-1625669982/neon-line-400x266-crop.jpg)
![Michel François - Château d'Oiron - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/news/michel-francois-chateau-d-oiron/07090f1291-1625663374/1-2016-instant-gratification-mf-201-photo-julie-joubert-400x266-crop.jpg)
![Michel François & Ugo Rondinone - Lustwarande - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/news/michel-francois-ugo-rondinone-lustwarande/fba5e3c77d-1625662132/001-francois-eynon-stations-2021-ph-gj-vanrooij-400x266-crop.jpg)